J. Glob. Innov. Agric. Soc. Sci., 2014, 2(4): 178-184.

ISSN (Online): 2311-3839; ISSN (Print): 2312-5225

DOI: 10.17957/JGIASS/2.4.600
http://www.jgiass.com

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT MULCH COLORS ON CUCUMBER PRODUCTION

Moses Mutetwa and Tuarira Mtaita*
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Africa University, Box 1320,
Old Mutare, Zimbabwe
*
Corresponding author’s e-mail: [email protected];[email protected]

Contributor ship statement: Both authors contributed equally in the development of this paper.
The increased use of colored plastic mulch is a better approach to control weeds and improvement in agricultural
production. Plastic mulches affect plant microclimate by modifying the soil energy balance and restricting soil water
evaporation, thereby influencing plant growth and yield. A field study was conducted on 5 mulching colors (black, blue,
red, silvery-grey, yellow) and wheat straw as control. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of different
colors of plastic mulch on growth performance and yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus).
The microclimate condition improved by the mulches have provided a suitable condition for producing superior branch
characteristics, number of fruits/plant, fruit size and total yield in the plants. Marketable fruit yield significantly improved
by the use of a silvery-grey colored plastic mulch (37.9t/ha) compared to the blue colored mulch (15.3t/ha) and wheat
straw mulch (26.4t/ha). Also, the significant results were observed in growth parameters by mulching with silver-grey
colored mulch. Fewer insect pests (thrips, aphids, cucumber moths and whiteflies) were noted on plants on Silvery grey
colored mulch compared to other colored mulches. The effectiveness of the colored mulches to suppress both aphids and
cucumber moth after the peak period was non-significant due to the increased vine/plant size which covered the colored
mulches. In areas where thrips and cucumber moth are likely to infest cucumber, Blue colored mulch is not suggested.
Where aphids and whiteflies are high, yellow colored mulches should be discouraged.
This study explored the possibility of improving yield of cucumber by using the plastic mulches in which silvery-grey
gave the most effective influence as compared to other color mulches.
Keywords: Cucumber (Cucumis sativus), Plastic mulch, insect pests, yield and wheat straw

INTRODUCTION 2006) and reduction in soil compaction leads to improve

production (Gough, 2001; Lamont, 1996).
Mulching is a technique that has been used by vegetable The color of mulching material largely determines its
growers for many years and may refer to use of either energy-radiating behavior and its influence on the
organic or inorganic materials. Various soil and plant cover microclimate around a vegetable plant. By using different
materials are available to help growers achieve their polymers and additives, it is possible for films to transmit,
production goals such as earliness, soil moisture retention, absorb or reflect different wavelengths preferentially. It is
improved quality, weed control and increased yields possible therefore, to create a wide variety of microclimates
(Mutetwa and Mtaita, 2014). In agriculture production, by using different types of film, either as covers over crops
plastic sheets are massively used as mulching material for or as mulch on the soil surface (Ahmed et al., 2001). The
improving agricultural production. Altered micro- purpose of assorted colors is to reflect far red: red ratios that
environments around plants can be created, depending on result in phytochrome regulation that may enhance plant
the color of the mulching material and local climatic growth and yield (Franquera, 2011). Plastic mulching has
conditions, by modifying the radiation budget of the surface, been developed mainly for vegetable crops (Ibarra Jiménez
improvement in soil moisture contents, temperature and the y Rodríguez Piña, 1997; Lamont, 2005; Díaz-Pérez, 2010).
control of pests and diseases as well as weeds. There are This has made some development in colored mulch technology
many reports confirming the stimulation of growth and which helps in the improvement of vegetable production.
consequent yield increase by the use of plastic mulches In recent years, it has been shown that selecting a plastic
which include improved fruit quality (Lamont, 1996; Brown mulch of the right color is very important in vegetable
and Channel l-Butcher, 2001; Loughrin and Kasperbauer, production. Nevertheless, little is known about the specific
2002); increases insect repellence (Csizinszky et al., 1995; color which can create an optimum impact in microclimate
Diaz-Perez et al., 2003; Medeiros et al., 2005), increased around cucumber production under Zimbabwean condition.
yield (Brown et at., 1995; Baker et al., 1999; Farias-Larios Thus, considering the importance of different mulching in
et at., 1999; Tarara, 2000; Lamont et al., 2005; May et al., various vegetable crops, the present investigation was
2005; Iqbal et al., 2009), fertilizer leaching loses can also be carried out to study the effect of different mulching material
minimized (Alain and Zimmerman, 2001, Gordon et al., on growth, yield and insect pest incidence of cucumber.

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MATERIALS AND METHODS Yields: Fruit yields were recorded on total of 9 harvesting
times according to marketable fruit size (+/-14 cm long).
The experimental study was conducted at Africa University Fruits were separated into marketable and cull ones (small
Farm (AU) in Mutare, Zimbabwe. The soil at AU farm is a and misshapen), then marketable fruits were also recorded.
red sandy clay loam, Fersiallitic 5E soil under Zimbabwe Insect Pests Incidences of the adults were counted every 3
soil classification system (Nyamapfene, 1991). days at first three weeks; after that every 6 days intervals
until harvesting.
Experimental design and treatments applied: Mulch color
treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Thrips (Thrip palmi): Numbers of adults were counted on
with three replications. Each treatment (mulch color) the 20 cm shoot of main branch.
consisted of two adjacent mulched beds per plot; each bed
was 8.0m long, 0.9m wide and 0.2m high. Plot area was Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and Cucumber moth (Diaphania
19.2m2 contained 64 plants and total experimental area was indica): Numbers of adult insects were counted on the main
500m2. Six mulching treatments were laid down: black, branch.
blue, silvery-grey on black; black on silvery-grey; yellow;
red; blue and; control wheat straw. Polyethylene and wheat Aphids (Aphis gossypii): The incidence of the insect pest
straw were placed over the soil in the beds. was measured by using the formula below;

Crop establishment and measurements: Cucumber % Leaves Number of leaves with aphids on main
(Cucumis sativus) cultivar Conil from Starke Ayres was Settled by branch x 100
used. This cultivar is a hybrid field cucumber, early to Aphids = Total leaves on main branch
mature with long production cycle. It is a high yielding
vigorous plants, open plant habit, early maturing, and dark Data analysis: The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was
done according to Gomez (1976) and the means were
colored, medium sized fruit of 14 - 15 cm long with
separated using LSD method.
resistance to powdery mildew, CVYV and CMV). Seeds
were sown directly on single row per bed with the row hill
RESULTS
spacing of 0.25m with one plant per hill. Rows were 1.2m
apart.
Plant Growth Characteristics
Before laying the mulch, basal fertilizer and 2 times of side
Base Stem Diameter: Data on the effect of different color
dressing were applied with the amount of 200kg N/ha,
mulches on stem diameter are shown in Fig 1. Significant
180kgs P2O5 and 50kgs K2O/ha. For each treatment, plants responses (P=0.05) to the stem diameter was exerted. The
were stalked at 14days after sowing and tied during the largest stem diameter was on Silvery-grey and Black
season. All plants were similarly cared. All the branches and colored polyethylene mulches (11.4 and 10.8 mm
flowers were kept on plant. Sprinkler irrigation was applied. respectively). The mean stem diameter was 10.55 mm.
The data were collected from10 plants (5 adjacent plants per
row by 2 rows) per each replication except the total fruit Main Branch Length: The comparison of treatment means
yield which was collected on all plants in plot. did reveal a significant difference in the length of the main
branch of the cucumber plants as shown in Figure 2. The
Variables measured: Data on plant growth characteristics length was highest on the Silvery-grey colored mulch (3.3
were recorded from each plot by taking random plant m), while the shortest was observed on the Blue colored
samples. mulch (2.5 m). Mean main branch length was 2.95 m.

Branch characteristics: At the last time of harvesting, main Number of Branches per plant: The comparison of
branch length was measured from stem base (2cm under treatment means for number of branches per plant only
dicotyledon) to the top of young shoot on main branch. showed significant difference on Silvery-grey colored
Number of branches above 50 cm long per plant and mulch with 4.9 branches per plant. However, no significant
number of leaves (including dry leaves) per main branch difference was shown for the rest of the other color mulches
were counted. (Figure 2). Mean number of branches per plant was 3.53.

Number and Weight per Fruit: The data were recorded at Number of Leaves per main branch: There was significant
each harvest date and calculated on per plot basis at each influence of color of mulches to the number of leaves on the
harvest. main branch of the cucumber (Figure 3). The highest
number of leaves was recorded on Silvery-grey colored
Fruit Size: Fruits from 10 plants were harvested at 3rd, 5th mulch (34.9 leaves per main branch), while the Blue, Red
and 7th time (with 10 fruit/harvesting time), random samples and Yellow colored mulches recorded the least number of
of marketable fruit from each plot were taken measuring leaves (28.6, 28.3 and 30.1 leaves per main branch respectively).
length and diameter. Mean number of leaves per main branch was 30.98.

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 Effect of different mulch colors on cucumber production

Fruit Size (Diameter and Length): The mulch color effect

on the size of the fruits was significant (Figure 4). Fruit
diameter was in the range of 4.4 to 4.8 cm and fruit length
was in the range of 13.5 to 15.5 cm. Fruits from plots
treated with Silvery-grey colored mulch were the biggest
(diameter of 4.8 cm and length 15.5 cm compared to the rest
of the colored mulches. Fruits from plots treated with Blue,
Red and Yellow colored mulches were the smallest both in
diameter and in length. Mean diameter and length for the
cucumber fruits was 4.55 cm and 14.33 cm respectively.
Figure 1: Shows the means of base stem diameter as influenced
by mulch color. Yields and Yield Components
Mean Fruit Weight: The results for the comparison of
treatment means for fruit weight showed significant
differences for the different colored mulches (Figure 5).
Mean fruit weight was highest on Silvery-grey colored
mulch at 0.223 kgs/fruit. The lowest mean fruit weight
(0.175 kgs/fruit) was observed from Blue colored mulch and
it was also not statistically different from Yellow colored
mulch which gave 0.180 kgs/fruit.

Number of Fruits per plant: Data on the effect of color of

mulching material on number of fruits per plant are shown
in Figure 6. There was a positive influence by Silvery-grey
color mulch on number of fruits per plants. Silvery-grey
Figure 2: Shows the means of number of branched per plant colored mulch had 11.2 fruits per plant. The rest of the
and length of main branch as influenced by mulch colored mulch gave a negative influence on number of fruit
color. per plant relative to the control (Wheat straw) with Black,
Blue, Red and Yellow giving 9.0, 6.4, 7.8, and 8.3 fruits per
plant respectively.

Weight of Fruit per plant: The mulch color effect on weight

of fruit per plant was only positively significant for Silvery-
grey colored mulch with 1.7 kgs/plant relative to the control
(Figure 6). The rest of the other colored mulches negatively
influenced weight of fruit per plant.

Total Bio-mass: Data in Figure 7 shows that the total bio-

mass (including roots, stems, branches, leaves and fruits)
ranges from 3.1 to 5.2 kgs/plant. The lowest total bio-mass
was given by plants on Red and Yellow colored mulch and
Figure 3: Shows the means of number of leaves on the main the highest was on Silvery-grey colored mulch.
branch as influenced by mulch color.
Total Fruit Yield: Data in Figure 7 shows that Silvery-grey
colored mulch gave the highest total fruit yield of 44.0 t/ha.
Blue, Red and Yellow colored mulches gave a negative
influence on fruit yield relative to the control (Wheat straw).
The lowest yield (19.8 t/ha) was recorded from Blue colored
mulch treatments.

Marketable Fruit Yield: The colored mulches had a

significant influence on the marketable fruit yield (Figure
7). Silvery-grey colored mulch gave the highest positive
influence on the yield (37.9 t/ha). Blue colored mulch had a
negative influence on marketable fruit yield with the lowest
yield of 15.3 t/ha recorded. Marketable yield from Black,
Figure 4: Shows the means of fruit diameter and length as Red and Yellow colored mulches were similar to yields
influenced by mulch color. from the control (Wheat straw).

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 Mutetwa & Mtaita

Percentage of Marketable Fruit Yield: The highest

percentage was recorded from Silvery-grey colored mulch
(86.2 %) while a lowest figure of 77.3 % marketable fruit
yield was recorded from Blue colored mulch (Figure 7).

Insect Pests Incidence

Thrips: (Thrip palmi): The influence of color of mulching
material were significant (P=0.01) on incidence of thrips on
the young shoot as shown in Figure 8. The incidence of the
pest started to increase gradually 21days after sowing until
51 days from sowing. The lowest number of the pest
recorded at 21days after sowing (DAS) was 0.6 units/20cm
Figure 5: Shows the means of fruit weight per plant as main branch on Silvery-grey colored mulch while the
influenced by mulch color. highest number of 3.4 units/20 cm main branch was from
Blue colored mulch. At 51 DAS Red, Silvery-grey and
Yellow colored mulch materials had a pest incidences (17.6,
17.4, 17.1 units/20 cm main branch respectively) while the
control (Wheat Straw) had 16.0 units/20 cm main branch.
Black and Blue colored mulches had 17.8 and 18.6 units/20
cm main branch respectively.

Cucumber moth: (Diaphania indica): The first incidence of

the pest was observed 21 DAS with Wheat straw recording
2.4 units/main branch (the highest) and Silvery-grey
recording 1.5units/main branch (the lowest). Figure 9 show
that from 21 DAS to 51 DAS the control (Wheat straw) had
the highest incidence of the insect pest relative to all the
Figure 6: Shows the means of fruit number, weight per plant colored mulch materials.
and total plant biomass as influenced by mulch color.
Whitefly: (Bemisia tabaci): The insect pest started
appearing 15 DAS except for Silvery-grey colored mulch
which started recording the incidence of whitefly 18 DAS.
All treatments recorded a peak in the incidence of the pest
27 DAS (Figure 10). The incidences then started to
gradually decrease until 51 DAS for the control and other
colored mulches except Silvery-grey which remained
relatively constant.

Aphids: (Aphis gossypii): The first incidence percentage of

the insect pest was recorded 21 DAS for Blue (10.8 %), Red
(14.7 %) and Yellow (17.0 %) mulches only (Figure 11). On
the other hand, the percentage pest incidences for Black
Figure 7: Shows the means of fruit number, weight per plant (18.0 %), Wheat straw (19.7 %) and Silvery-grey (8.1 %)
and total plant biomass as influenced by mulch color. was first recorded 27 DAS. A peak for all the treatments
was recorded 45 DAS with Yellow colored mulch recording
the highest incidence percentage of 60.7 %.

DISCUSSION

Data recorded on plant growth characteristics expressed as

base stem diameter, main branch length, number of
branches per plant, number of leaves and fruit size clearly
showed the influence of mulch color. Silvery-grey and
Black colored mulches had significant effect on growth
parameters of cucumber plants as compared to the control
treatment. Mulch color affected photosynthate partitioning
and growth characteristics, as well as biomass accumulation
Figure 7: Shows the means of fruit number, weight per plant in the shoots, potentially influenced by the far red: red ratio.
and total plant biomass as influenced by mulch color. A possible higher far red: red ratio due to light reflectance
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 Effect of different mulch colors on cucumber production

reflected FR from the red mulch tricked the plants to believe

there was more competition thus development was
stimulated. This could be a reason why the lettuce grown in
red mulch were the tallest (Kasperbaeur 2010). Rajablariani
et al., (2012), working on tomatoes attributed these findings
to the mulch color`s effects on internodes length suggesting
a role for surface reflected light (and particularly the far-red
to red light ratio) on plant development. However,
researches conducted on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) grown on
red mulch had most number of leaves compared to the other
colored mulch treatments (Franquera, 2011).
The results on yield were significant showing that the
Figure 9: Shows the means of number of Cucumber moth on
surface color of plastic mulch can change the quantity of
main branch as influenced by mulch color
light and spectral balance reaching plants, with resulting
effects on growth and fruit production. Among all mulching
treatments, maximum average fruit weight was recorded in
Silvery grey colored mulch treatment and least from Blue
colored mulch. It appears that Silvery grey colored mulch
might have induced favorable conditions to the attainment
of fruits with higher weight. The significant results of yield
of mulched plot was probably associated with the
conservation of moisture and improved microclimate both
beneath and above the soil surface and great weed control,
especially in Silvery-grey and Black plastic mulch. The
more number of leaves as a result of more branches due to
the extra length (more number of internodes) in the main
stem could have positively influenced the yield. Significant
Figure 10: Shows the means of number of Whiteflies on main more number of leaves on Silvery grey colored mulch
branch as influenced by mulch color means more photosynthetic surface hence more cucumber
yield. The use of plastic mulch promotes changes in the
microclimate of the plant, favoring growth and vigor,
production and yield of plants (Diaz-Perez, 2010; Lopez-
Lopez et al., 2009). Gordon et al., 2010 demonstrated
increased productivity of okra when plastic mulch was used.
In a study assessing five different plastic mulch colors
(black, white, red, silver, and blue) on an okra crop, the
greatest yield was obtained with the silver colored plastic
mulch, followed by the blue plastic mulch, while the control
treatment with no mulch produced the lowest yield.
Contrary to Rajablariani et al., (2012), our results were
inconsistent in treatments of Blue colored mulch which
produced plants among the shortest main branch length,
Figure 11: Shows the means of % leaves with Aphids on main number of leaves, number of fruits per plant and marketable
branch as influenced by mulch color fruit yield.
Generally, fewer thrips, aphids, cucumber moths and
from these colored mulches may have activated the positive whiteflies were noted on plants on Silvery grey colored
responses of the phytochrome in the plants, signaling plants mulch compared to other colored mulches. Díaz-Pérez et al.,
to compete in an attempt to grow taller than from other (2003); Momol et al., (2004); Nagata et al., (2004) and
colored mulches. The ability of these colored mulches to Stavisky et al., (2002) attributes this to the insect-repellant
transmit, absorb and reflect different wavelengths characteristic of metalized mulches. At peak period, the
preferentially possibly acted through the phytochrome reduced number of fruits and reduced marketable yields on
system to regulate stem elongation and diameter, branching, the Blue colored mulch may also have been due to the large
number of leaves, photosynthate partitioning among number of thrips that was attracted to the Blue colored
shoots, roots and developing fruits. This implies that the mulch from early in the season and remained relatively high
different mulch colors had a significant influence on the throughout the growing season. Cucumber moth was also
biomass of the cucumber plant. El-Zohiri and Samy (2013) attracted to the Blue colored mulch in large numbers and
and Panchal et al., 2001 also found the same results. could have negatively influenced the number of fruits and
Decotaeu (2008) attributed this to the lighter color mulches marketable yields the same as thrips. Aphids and whiteflies
reflecting more light; but a lower ratio of FR/R. The were attracted more to the Yellow colored mulch while
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 Mutetwa & Mtaita

there was suppression of aphids and whitefly by the Wheat ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

straw and Red colored mulches respectively. Hooks et al., The authors owe very special thanks to all members of the
(1998) attributed the suppression of adult whiteflies and Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Africa
aphids on zucchini plants with buckwheat mulch to the University.
insect-repellent characteristics of the buckwheat mulch. The
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