Effects of a high-reflective mulching membrane on environmental parameters and food crops cultivation: results from a summer season campaign

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an innovative technology for the agricultural sector. The technology consists of a high-reflective mulching membrane, coupled with a drip sub-irrigation system, applied in the experimental field in Perugia, Italy. The aim is to investigate the effects of the high-reflective membrane on soil temperature, food crops productivity, phenological growth, and nutritional characterization of fruits. The experimental field was set up to investigate two potential scenarios: with and without mulching membrane coupled with a drip sub-irrigation system. Temperature monitoring sensors were installed in both sections to monitor the soil temperature at 5 cm depth. The phenological monitoring campaign was performed according to the parameters defined for the cultivated food crops. Preliminary results in terms of environmental monitoring showed that the soil temperature values were lower in the section covered by the mulching membrane during the middle hours of the day. The proposed farming technology allows to increase the food crops productivity tenfold, while maintaining the nutritional properties of food crops compared to those cultivated with traditional techniques. Further analyses will be performed to investigate more in-dept the nutritional properties of the cultivated food crops to assess its effects on human health.