Biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) have been introduced as an alternative to polyethylene (PE) mulches, which are costly to remove and dispose of. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and suitability of biodegradable plastic mulches for winter strawberry production in Florida. We conducted a field experiment using ‘Florida Brilliance’ short-day strawberry in the 2023-2024 winter season in West Central Florida. The experiment consisted of five mulch treatments: black PE mulch (control), black starch-based BDM (Mater-Bi®), black resin-based BDM (Ecovio®), white starch-based BDM (Mater-Bi®), and white resin-based BDM (Ecovio®). Although mulch deterioration was minimal on the bed top, it was more evident on the sides or at the base of the bed, especially for starch-based BDMs. Compared to black PE and BDMs, white BDMs increased light reflection and light interception by the canopy. Consequently, white BDMs recorded lower mulch surface, canopy, and fruit temperatures. White BDMs had 35% and 15% higher early season marketable yield (December–January) than black PE and BDMs, respectively, whereas total marketable yield did not show any significant difference. White BDMs showed significantly higher fruit soluble solids content than all black mulches. These results of suggest that the performance and suitability of biodegradable plastic mulches depend on their colors and compositions.
