Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure
4.8.
Commercial field of broccoli growing in Ecuador.
planted in the field, using a planter, or started in seedbeds in green or screen houses and
then transplanted to the field as young seedlings or plugs as described above. There are
several different kinds of planters that can be used for planting seedlings. Irrigation of
vegetable crops is common even in areas where total rainfall is adequate but may be
lacking at critical points during the growing season.
Mulching (Fig. 4.9) using any of a variety of common mulching agents, that is,
black plastic, paper, crop straw, or other residue is common in vegetable production.
Mulching is a general term that means covering the soil between plants in the row
and between rows. Mulching accomplishes two functions, weed and soil moisture
Figure
4.9.
Black plastic being used as mulch for strawberries in raised beds.
