The Use of Hydromulching as an Alternative to Plastic Films in an Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus cv. Symphony) Crop: A Study of the Economic Viability

The use of mulching in agriculture suppresses the weeds around crop plants, enhances nutrients status soil, controls soil structure and temperature, reduces water evaporation. Excessive low-density polyethylene mulches is contributing to accumulation high amounts plastic wastes, an environmental problem for agricultural ecosystems. Fragments from such wastes can be found soils, resources, organisms, including humans. objective this work was study economic viability different hydromulches artichoke crop. Three blends were prepared by mixing paper pulp (recycled used paper) cardboard (from mills) with additives: wheat straw (WS), rice hulls (RH), substrate mushroom cultivation (MS). These compared (Pe), a treatment without on bare where hand weeding performed (HW), herbicide applied (H). results indicate that hydromulch represents good alternative reducing waste agriculture. net profits treatments (MS, WS, RH) higher than HW H, slightly lower Pe. most profitable Pe (€0.69 m−3), followed RH (€0.59 WS (€0.58 MS (€0.47 (€0.36 H (€0.32 m−3). A sensitivity analysis showed probability negative 0.04 Pe, 0.13 SM, 0.08 0.07 RH, so grower will make profit greater 0.9 mulch (except substrate) or polyethylene.