Soil temperature and soil water potential under thin oxodegradable plastic film impact on cotton crop establishment and yield

There was no significant benefit in lint yield due to thin film, while all fibre quality parameters made base grade. Long-term simulation of early planting, with and without thin film, indicated that lint yield was variable with no consistent benefit due to the presence of thin film for the locations simulated. There is still a risk of cold weather or frost occurring when planting early with thin film that growers need to consider. In practical terms it is anticipated that growers would potentially only plant 5% of their area early depending on the seasonal forecast.