Comparative analysis of biodegradable mulch use in hill-side strawberry production Plastic film (PF) is widely used in crop production, yet global environmental concerns urge for reduced plastic waste. Biodegradable and bio-based mulches emerge as promising alternatives, potentially crucial for sustainable agriculture. This significance is emphasized by the hypothesis that small farms prioritize sustainability and seek to reduce plastic waste in soil and food systems, especially if these alternatives match or exceed the benefits of plastic mulch. However, there is limited data available on the effectiveness of biodegradable paper (BP) and bio-based film (BB) in small-scale crop production, an area frequently affected by heat and drought stress. A field experiment was conducted on a strawberry field in Redlands, San Bernardino County, California during the seasons of 2022 and 2023, respectively. This study was conducted to identify the most appropriate alternative to plastic mulch in hill-side production systems under the Mediterranean climate as it relates to yield and fruit quality at harvest day. We used four common mulches in small farms in California, polyethylene mulch (PE), landscape paper mulch (PA), Coconut liner mulch (CL), Biodegradable plastic mulch (MB), and bare soil (control) with the most popular ever-bearing variety, ‘Albion’. To investigate the suitability and efficacy of his mulches, we recorded the soil properties (temperature, moisture, and pH) daily, fruit yield (fruit weight and fruits/plant) biweekly, and fruit quality (Soluble solid and color) at harvest considering farm stand or U-pick sale service. Our results indicate that the highest total yield in terms of total fruit weight and number of fruits per plant grows under MB, CL, and PF mulch respectively. No notable differences were observed among treatments in fruit quality parameters such as soluble solids and color. The soil under the coconut coir liner had the highest moisture content, compared to PE, BDM, and bare ground treatments. No significant difference was found among the treatments in weed control. By the end of the cropping period, all treatments adequately covered the soil surface. However, in the buried part of the mulches, the PA mulch exhibited considerable degradation before the end of the season, while the MB showed faster signs of biodegradation. Based on crop productivity and the different mulch efficacy observed in our study, this production system with CL and MB is a good alternative to compare to PE and PA mulches for ever-bearing hillside strawberry production in the Mediterranean climate.
