SINTĒTISKĀS MULČAS IETEKME UZ ZEMEŅU RAŽU PIRMAJĀ AUDZĒŠANAS GADĀ.

Field trials were carried out at the farm „Bērzemnieki“ located in Jaunalūksne parish, Latvia, to investigate the effect of plastic mulch on the yield formation of strawberries. Strawberry cultivars 'Polka', 'Sonata' and 'Rumba' were grown in double beds. The distance between plants in bed was 30 cm. Strawberry beds were covered with a black film, a white film with the black bottom, a black ground cover or black geotextile. Non-mulched beds were used as a control sample. Results showed that the yield of strawberries in the beds covered with the white film and the black film was significantly higher than in the beds without mulch. Strawberries in black covers began to produce up to 3 days earlier in comparison with white mulch and the control sample. Significantly higher yield for strawberry cultivars 'Polka' and 'Rumba' was obtained in mulched beds in comparison with the control sample. For cultivar 'Sonata' significantly higher yield was obtained in the black and white film and black geotextile. The highest yield and most qualitative berries were obtained in the white plastic mulch. The black geotextile and the black film could be mentioned as the next most promising mulches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]