Nurzoda et al. (2026) Effects of Different Colors of Biodegradable Mulch Film on Vegetative Growth, Yield, Fruit Quality, and Soil Properties in Grafted Watermelon

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Agronomy
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-03-31
• Authors: Nazar Nurzoda, Ying He, Cunyao Yan, Yisong Liu, Gaopeng Yuan, Wei Zhang, Nurali Asozoda, Amonullo F. Salimzoda, Yi Zhu, Wenqing He
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy16070733

Research Groups

Not specified in the text.

Short Summary

This study investigates the impact of various colored biodegradable mulches (BDM) on watermelon production and quality, comparing them to traditional polyethylene mulch (PM). It finds that silver-black BDM significantly enhances soil moisture and nutrient retention, leading to improved watermelon quality (specifically soluble solids content) and economic viability, advocating for its use in sustainable agriculture.

Objective

• To investigate the effects of various colors of biodegradable mulches on watermelon production and quality, with a particular emphasis on BDM in comparison to conventional polyethylene mulch (PM).

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Field-scale agricultural experiment, with economic analysis presented per hectare.
• Temporal Scale: Implied duration of a watermelon growing season or crop cycle, with observations of periodic temperature changes and prolonged mulch use.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: No specific computational or simulation models were used; the study is experimental.
• Data sources: Field observations and direct measurements of light transmission (0.2–15.3 µm wavelength range), reflectivity, soil water content, thermal profiles, plant biomass, root nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels, leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) retention, average fruit weight and width, and soluble solids content (°Brix). Economic viability data (inputs, outputs, profit) were also collected.

Main Results

• Transparent biodegradable mulches demonstrated high light transmission within the 0.2–15.3 µm wavelength range, while silver-black treatments exhibited greater reflectivity.
• The silver-black biodegradable mulch effectively reduced evaporation, maintaining soil water content 5–8% higher than that of polyethylene mulch.
• The thermal profile of silver-black biodegradable mulch showed periodic temperature increases similar to those observed with polyethylene mulch.
• Silver-black biodegradable mulch enhanced biomass, root nitrogen and phosphorus levels, and leaf nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium retention compared to polyethylene mulch.
• Among biodegradable mulch treatments, silver-black yielded the highest average fruit weight (7.68 kg) and width (22.83 cm), though these differences were not statistically significant when compared to polyethylene mulch.
• Silver-black biodegradable mulch produced the highest soluble solids content (13.2 °Brix) at a significance level of p < 0.05 relative to polyethylene mulch.
• All mulch treatments proved profitable and economically viable, with silver-black biodegradable mulch and transparent polyethylene mulch yielding a satisfactory profit ranging from $1937 to $2503 per hectare.

Contributions

• Provides a direct comparative analysis of various colored biodegradable mulches against conventional polyethylene mulch for watermelon cultivation, addressing environmental concerns.
• Identifies silver-black biodegradable mulch as a superior option for enhancing soil moisture retention, nutrient availability, and improving watermelon quality, specifically soluble solids content.
• Offers economic viability data supporting the adoption of biodegradable mulches, particularly the silver-black variant, in sustainable agricultural practices.
• Advocates for the integration of sensor-embedded mulch films and the use of silver-black color to optimize water and nutrient utilization in sustainable watermelon cultivation.

Funding

Not specified in the text.

Citation

@article{Nurzoda2026Effects,
  author = {Nurzoda, Nazar and He, Ying and Yan, Cunyao and Liu, Yisong and Yuan, Gaopeng and Zhang, Wei and Asozoda, Nurali and Salimzoda, Amonullo F. and Zhu, Yi and He, Wenqing},
  title = {Effects of Different Colors of Biodegradable Mulch Film on Vegetative Growth, Yield, Fruit Quality, and Soil Properties in Grafted Watermelon},
  journal = {Agronomy},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.3390/agronomy16070733},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16070733}
}