Comparative Performance of Sugarcane Bagasse and Black Polyethylene as Mulch for Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) Production

• DOI: 10.5539/jas.v9n11p1
• Publication Date: 2017-10-16T04:39:38Z
• Authors: Charles L. Webber...; Paul M. White Jr; Douglas J. Spaunh...; Eric C. Petrie
• Keywords: Bagasse; Cucurbita pepo; Cane; Squash; Plastic mulch

Louisiana processed 11.7 million mt of sugarcane in 2016, producing 1.47 raw sugar and an estimated 3.5 bagasse. Sugarcane bagasse is the fibrous material remaining after removing sucrose, water, other impurities (filter mud) from millable sugarcane. Typically, mills burn a portion to heat boilers steam power mill for grinding processing. The balance stored at where it accumulates immense piles. Research was conducted 2015 2016 investigate use as natural mulch vegetable production. field experiment compared mulch, black plastic no (control) suitable mulching treatments squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) produced significantly greater marketable fruits/plant, fruit number, total yield (kg/ha) across years mulch. control were not different these same parameters. Black also heaver (g/fruit) than 2015. yields due cumulative growing degree days (CGDD) received control. tended mitigate temperature extremes by serving soil insulator. Future research should potential deleterious impact, if any, on microbes, C/N ratio, pH, allelopathy, which might adversely influence cucurbit growth.