What are the suitable covering fabrics for agriculture?

Introduction

Today, various functional covering fabrics are quietly changing the crop growth environment. They not only regulate the microclimate environment for crop growth, reduce the impact of external natural climate, and prevent microbial invasion, but also enable off-season cultivation, allowing for year-round supply of various vegetables, increasing yield and efficiency.

Basic Functions and Advantages Agricultural covering fabrics refer to various textile materials specifically used for crop cultivation. Their main functions include temperature regulation, humidity control, pest and disease prevention, and soil environment improvement. Compared with traditional plastic films, textile covering materials have advantages such as good air permeability, high durability, and environmental friendliness. Utilizing agricultural cultivation materials to modify microclimate conditions can regulate the plant growth period, producing more and more nutritious, high-quality agricultural products. Covering fabrics produce appropriate heat preservation, frost protection, and cold insulation effects through multiple functions such as blocking radiant heat, reducing gas convection heat loss, limiting water evaporation and vaporization, and the low thermal conductivity of textiles themselves.

Main Types and Applications

1. Cold-resistant Yarn

Cold-resistant yarn is a gauze-like fabric woven from chemical fibers and treated with resin. It possesses four main functions: pest and disease prevention, heat insulation, light regulation, and breathability. As an agricultural material, cold-resistant yarn can be directly applied to crops, providing appropriate protection against pests and diseases without the need for pesticides. In cold seasons, it provides insulation, offering protection against frost, wind, and snow. Different types of cold-resistant yarn can also be used to regulate plant light management based on their light-blocking or light-transmitting requirements. Among various fibers, acrylic fiber has the best weather resistance, followed by vinylon, then polyethylene and polyester. However, acrylic fiber has lower initial strength than vinylon, so vinylon is often used as the raw material.

2. Agricultural Nonwoven Fabric

Agricultural nonwoven fabric is mainly used in greenhouses, seedling raising cloths, etc. It can be used as a covering to regulate and improve the growth environment of crops under adverse climatic conditions, achieving early maturity, high yield, high quality, and high efficiency cultivation techniques. Agricultural nonwoven fabrics possess properties such as light-blocking, breathability, moisture regulation, and heat insulation and frost protection. They can reduce relative humidity inside greenhouses by 6-17%, significantly controlling pests and diseases in fruits and vegetables. Harvest fabric is a major category of agricultural nonwoven fabrics; it can be directly applied to plants to prevent pest infestation. As a secondary insulation curtain in glass or plastic greenhouses, it can increase greenhouse temperature or air temperature by 2-4°C, shortening the plant's growing season.

3. PVC Coated Fabrics

PVC coated fabrics have become an important material for agricultural coverings in recent years. They are made from high-strength polyester yarn with a PVC coating. This material possesses properties such as waterproofing, mildew resistance, cold resistance, aging resistance, and antistatic properties, and its breaking strength, tear elongation, and tear strength are significantly superior to traditional tarpaulins.

In agriculture and animal husbandry, PVC tarpaulins can be used to construct the side walls of greenhouses or as temporary rain shelters, regulating the crop growing environment. In animal husbandry, tarpaulins can be used for livestock shed roofs, silage coverings, or temporary isolation pens. Their antibacterial coating reduces microbial growth. PVC-coated fabrics typically have a temperature resistance range of -30°C to +70°C, enabling them to withstand extreme temperatures and ensuring performance and durability in various environments.

4. Mulching Materials

Mulching film is a thin agricultural film directly applied to cultivation beds or near the ground. It can be categorized into several types based on its material and function.

Colorless transparent mulch film: With a light transmittance and heat radiation rate exceeding 90%, it is widely used for warming and water retention in spring.

Black mulch film: With low light transmittance, it effectively prevents soil moisture evaporation and inhibits weed growth.

Silver-gray mulch film: Reflects ultraviolet rays, providing cooling, moisture retention, and aphid repellency.

Green mulch film: Inhibits chlorophyll formation in weeds, reducing photosynthesis and thus suppressing weed growth.