Why are strawberry fields covered in plastic? - Quora

Strawberry fields are often covered in plastic to protect the strawberries from pests, diseases, and adverse weather conditions. This practice, known as plasticulture, also helps to control weeds and conserve soil moisture, resulting in higher yields and better quality strawberries. However, the use of plastic in agriculture has raised environmental concerns due to issues with waste disposal and potential impacts on soil and water quality. Efforts are being made to develop more sustainable alternatives to plastic mulching in strawberry production. There is a multiphase answer for that. Initially the plastic is laid down over the mounds with the watering system already in place. This initial phase is called solarization. The hot sun heats the moist soil, and the plastic sheeting keeps the heat in. The temperature gets hot enough to kill most weed seeds, some soil organisms, and most bugs, like sow bugs, slugs, and earwigs. Next holes are cut in the plastic sheeting to provide a place to

Strawberry fields are often covered in plastic to protect the strawberries from pests, diseases, and adverse weather conditions. This practice, known as plasticulture, also helps to control weeds and conserve soil moisture, resulting in higher yields and better quality strawberries. However, the use of plastic in agriculture has raised environmental concerns due to issues with waste disposal and potential impacts on soil and water quality. Efforts are being made to develop more sustainable alternatives to plastic mulching in strawberry production. There is a multiphase answer for that. Initial