INFLUENCE D’UN PAILLIS EN POLYETHYLENE CLAIR SUR LA PRODUCTION DE CONCOMBRE DANS UNE REGION NORDIQUE

Cucumbers were grown during six summers with clear plastic mulch on bare soil. Mulching influence on yield varied with years, increasing from 1.8 to 78%, and was related to annual temperature conditions. Lowest increases in yield were recorded in the longest frost-free season with high monthly temperatures. During cooler and shorter seasons cucumber yields on plastic mulch were significantly higher than with the bare soil controls. No difference was noted in cucumber weight and size. Soil temperatures were consistently higher under the plastic mulch.