Sweet corn plant growth and yield as influenced by plastic film mulch color

ABSTRACT Although plastic mulches are widely used in vegetable production, there is limited information on the production of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata) on plastic mulch. The objective of the work was to determine effects of colored mulches on sweet corn plant growth and ear yield. The study was conducted in Tifton, GA, during the 2011 fall and 2014 spring seasons. Colored plastic mulches evaluated were black, blue, gray (gray-on-black), red, silver (silver-on-black), and white (white-on-black). Root zone temperature (RZT) was measured by determining soil temperature midway between plants at 10 cm soil depth. In the fall and spring seasons, black, blue, gray, and red mulches provided more soil warming than silver and white mulches. In the fall, plants were tallest on plastic mulches that retained the least heat in the soil, i.e., silver and white mulches had the lowest RZTs. In the spring, plants were shortest on silver mulch. In the fall, marketable and total yields and sweet corn ear weight were highest on silver and white mulches and lowest on black, blue, and red mulches. Plant height and marketable yield decreased with increasing RZTs (during the first 42 DAP) above 26°C. In the fall, reduced plant height and yield in black, blue, and red mulches were probably because of supra-optimal RZTs. There were no differences in corn ear yields in the spring among plastic mulch treatments. The impact of colored plastic mulches on plant growth and sweet corn yield varied by season and was associated with RZTs under colored plastic mulches.