This is part of our 2011 transition to a reduced tillage / compaction / water usage / weed system. While some may see plastic mulch as litter or pollution others see it as a way to foster productivity and reduce labor and negative impacts.

The “mulch” is actually a solid roll or 1.5 mil (.0015 inches) thick polyetheylene film. You can acquire this material in different thicknesses, colors, textures and volume / roll. In our case we are using a 4 foot wide x 2400 foot roll of black embossed poly. Enough to lay out 24 100 foot rows. With this we’ll be placing, at the same time, beneath the plastic mulch, a 15 mil (.015 inch wall thickness) low flow drip tape with emitter slits 12 inches apart. This will provide .2 gallons of water / minute / 100 feet of length @ 10 PSI.

2400 feet of poly is a lot of plastic to lay by hand. It would require you to dig or cut two trenches, lay the plastic, situate the edges into the trenches and cover edges with the dirt you removed. After laying down the drip tape of course. Your back would not thank you after a day of such work and the plastic would not hug the ground tightly.

Fortunately there are many companies that manufacture equipment that automates the process. The cheapest of these, new, is about $1500 for a base model. Prices go up, way up, from there. Unfortunately most small farmers must watch their budgets carefully and such a large investment, relatively speaking, is unfeasible. While a used implement is an option, finding one may prove difficult if you don’t live in an area where production produce farming isn’t a large percentage of the Ag business. But with a little research, a few tools and some “skills” you can easily manufacture your own. You will still need a tractor with at least a Category 1 3 pt hitch.

In upcoming blog entries we’ll discuss the basics of laying plastic poly and drip tape as well as designing and building your own mulch layer.  We have a simple prototype designed and built which we’ll be testing in the coming months.  I am sure there will be improvements and changes made.  Follow along as we cover the dirt, one strip at a time.