TY - JOUR AU - Fereres, Elias AU - Goldhamer, David A. TI - Plastic mulch increases cotton yield, reduces need for preseason irrigation JF - California Agriculture JO - Calif Agr Y1 - 1991/05/01 VL - 45 IS - 3 SP - 25 EP - 28 PB - University of California Agriculture and Nature Resources SN - 0008-0845 UR - http://www.ucanr.edu/sites/calagjournal/archive/?article=ca.v045n03p25 AB - Preseason irrigation of cotton has been identified as the single largest contributor to the drainage problem in the central San Joaquin Valley. By applying plastic mulch at earlier than normal planting dates, we conserved soil moisture that would have normally been lost to the atmosphere. The mulch also raised soil temperatures, resulting in rapid germination and early plant growth. Yields of Pima S-6 and Acala SJ-2 were 39% and 8% higher than nonmulched plots, respectively. Net profit increased by about $450 per acre for Pima because it attracted a higher price.