WestRock Paper Mulch Trials

The on-farm paper mulch trials are being conducted on 7 watermelon farms in the Suwannee Valley and research trials are being conducted at the North Florida Research and Education Center- Suwannee Valley (NFREC-SV) during the spring of 2024. The goal of this trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new paper mulch developed by WestRock (a paper manufacturer) in comparison to commonly used standard plastic mulch. The evaluation of the paper versus plastic mulch includes the ability to resist degradation over a single season of a watermelon crop, resist the penetration of nutsedge through the paper, as well as the effect on soil temperatures and watermelon early and total season yield. At the end of the season, the paper mulch can easily be tilled into the soil saving on labor to pull up nondegradable plastic mulches.

Controlled Release Fertilizer

Controlled release fertilizer (CRF) is a specialized fertilizer that is engineered to release its components gradually over a controlled period, as opposed to conventional fertilizers that release nutrients rapidly upon application. This controlled release technology is achieved through multiple layers of polymer coating, allowing nutrients to be released in response to factors such as temperature, soil moisture, and microbial activity. CRF offers several advantages over conventional fertilizers, including improved nutrient uptake efficiency and reduced leaching of nutrients into groundwater, while still resulting in similar yields to conventional fertilizers. Additionally, CRF can offer logistical benefits such as reduced labor and application frequency, making it an attractive option for growers aiming to maximize productivity while minimizing resource inputs and their environmental footprint. CRF technology has been implemented in many NFREC-Suwannee Valley research trials on crops including corn, watermelon, snapbeans, and carrots. In addition to being used for multiple years in “on farm trials” in the Suwannee Valley on watermelons and corn!

Coming soon

Coming soon

Coming soon