{"id":27986,"date":"2021-12-20T14:29:01","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T19:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/?page_id=27986"},"modified":"2024-05-24T11:55:51","modified_gmt":"2024-05-24T15:55:51","slug":"introduction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/1075e\/introduction\/","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin #1075, Tarping in the Northeast: Introduction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Reusable tarps, including black plastic (silage tarps), clear plastic, and landscape fabric, are multi-functional, accessible tools that are increasingly popular on small farms. The use of opaque materials that block light is frequently called \u201coccultation\u201d <\/b>while the use of clear tarps is called \u201csolarization.\u201d<\/b> We treat \u201ctarping\u201d<\/b> as a general term to include both. Regardless of the material used, tarps are applied to the soil surface between crops and then removed prior to planting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Definitions<\/b><\/h3>

Solarization <\/b>is the practice of using clear tarps to capture solar energy and heat the soil surface. The effects of solarization on pests (weeds and pathogens) and beneficial organisms are highly dependent on weather conditions.<\/p>

Occultation <\/b>is the practice of using opaque (typically black) tarps to block light and therefore prevent photosynthesis. The word has Latin origins, meaning \u201cto block.\u201d The effects of occultation are less dependent on, but nonetheless affected by, weather conditions.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In cool climates like that of the Northeastern US, tarping has emerged as an important way to manage weeds, crop residue, soil moisture, and nutrients. Tarps can be versatile tools left in place for days to months at a time depending on context. They are commonly seen as \u2018placeholders,\u2019 covering soils to keep them weed-free and to retain moisture and nutrients until planting time. Many farmers use tarps to reduce the intensity of tillage or the number of tillage passes, while other farmers have moved to rotational no-till or even continuous no-till with tarps. Tarps have also been deployed as a way to transition new fields into production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farms using tarps are generally small (<5 acres) and employ organic practices, however, the reasons farmers use tarps are diverse. A recent survey of farmers in the Northeast (Rangarajan 2019) showed that there are many different goals with tarping.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Graph<\/a>
Percent of farmer survey participants who ranked various goals of tarping as moderately or very important on their farm. (Rangarajan 2019)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Despite the advantages of using tarps, there are tradeoffs to this practice and many unknowns. Farmers cite the logistics associated with handling tarps, including moving, securing, and storing them, as especially challenging. Because of these challenges, tarping is currently scale-limited. Tarping is a powerful weed management tool, but some weed species can become problematic when tarping is deployed without additional or alternative weed management techniques. Occupying valuable field space during the growing season with a tarp on land that would otherwise be planted to cash or cover crops represents an opportunity cost, and the benefits of tarping must outweigh the time required to implement the practice effectively. While tarps are reusable, they are made of plastic; manufacturing, disposal, and plastic contamination during their use are concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide is intended for those who are interested in or currently using tarps and would like to know more. The individual practice sections<\/strong><\/a> and farmer case studies<\/a><\/strong> serve as standalone resources. Research results and farmer experiences from multiple states in the Northeast have been combined to provide a thorough and up-to-date picture on the state of tarping knowledge including logistics, science, and economics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity institution and provider committed to nondiscrimination. For more information, visit extension.umaine.edu\/nondiscrimination<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reusable tarps, including black plastic (silage tarps), clear plastic, and landscape fabric, are multi-functional, accessible tools that are increasingly popular on small farms. The use of opaque materials that block light is frequently called \u201coccultation\u201d while the use of clear tarps is called \u201csolarization.\u201d We treat \u201ctarping\u201d as a general term to include both. Regardless […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":27978,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/page-withsidebar.php","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-27986","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nBulletin #1075, Tarping in the Northeast: Introduction - Cooperative Extension Publications - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/1075e\/introduction\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bulletin #1075, Tarping in the Northeast: Introduction - Cooperative Extension Publications - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Reusable tarps, including black plastic (silage tarps), clear plastic, and landscape fabric, are multi-functional, accessible tools that are increasingly popular on small farms. 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