AMPLIFICATION OF SOIL COMPACTION BETWEEN RIDGES AFTER USING PLASTIC MULCH ON ENTIRE SURFACE IN PLASTIC TUNNELS FROM NORTH-EAST OF ROMANIA.

Our studies performed on the plastic tunnels from North-East part of Romania included a field work phase (soil and biological material sampling, soil profiles description, penetration resistance determination, digital images capture), laboratory phase (chemical and physical soil analysis). Based on field and laboratory data were estimated packing density and bulk density restricting rooting. The obtained results have shown that black plastic films on the entire surface of soil favors soil compaction, in the areas located between plants rows (i), the ploughpan conducted to the waterlogging on the bottom part of ploughed layer (ii), root system poorly developed favored some physiological disorders such as Blossom end rot on tomatoes fruits (iii). Soil determination in field (penetration resistance, morphological soil indicators) and laboratory (water distribution, bulk density, size particles distribution) and quality of fruits reveled negative influence of plastic mulch. Strong soil compaction between ridges allows us to recommend avoiding plastic mulch over the entire soil surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]