Plasticulture Engineering and Technology

439 Pages·2022·85.093 MB·English

by  Rohitashw Kumar, Vijay P. Singh

Plasticulture Engineering and
Technology

Plasticulture Engineering and
Technology
Rohitashw Kumar and Vijay P. Singh
First edition published 2022
by CRC Press
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
and by CRC Press
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
© 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and publisher cannot assume respon-
sibility for the validity of all materials or the consequences of their use. The authors and publishers have attempted to trace the
copyright holders of all material reproduced in this publication and apologize to copyright holders if permission to publish in this
form has not been obtained. If any copyright material has not been acknowledged please write and let us know so we may rectify
in any future reprint.
Except as permitted under U.S. Copyright Law, no part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced, transmitted, or utilized in any
form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying, microfilming, and
recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publishers.
For permission to photocopy or use material electronically from this work, access www .copyright .com or contact the Copyright
Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400. For works that are not available on CCC
please contact mpkbookspermissions@ tandf. co. uk
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are used only for identification
and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Names: Kumar, Rohitashw, author. | Singh, V. P. (Vijay P.), author.
Title: Plasticulture engineering and technology/Rohitashw Kumar, Vijay P.
Singh.
Description: First edition. | Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2022. | Includes
index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021048665 (print) | LCCN 2021048666 (ebook) | ISBN
9781032045696 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032227450 (paperback) | ISBN
9781003273974 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Plastics. | Plastics in agriculture. | Plastics in
irrigation.
Classification: LCC S494.5.P5 K86 2022 (print) | LCC S494.5.P5 (ebook) |
DDC 631.3--dc23/eng/20211122
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021048665
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021048666
ISBN: 9781032045696 (hbk)
ISBN: 9781032227450 (pbk)
ISBN: 9781003273974 (ebk)
DOI: 10.1201/9781003273974
Typeset in Times
by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
Dedication
Rohitashw Kumar: My late parents Smt. Rajwan Devi and Sh. Chhalu
Ram; Brother Sh. Balbir Singh and Bhabhi Smt Kitabo Devi; my wife
Mrs Reshma Devi; daughter Meenu; and son Vineet Kumar.
Vijay P. Singh: My wife Anita who is no more; son Vinay; daughter Arti;
daughter-in-law Sonali; son-in-law Vamsi; grandsons Ronin, Kayden, and Davin.

Contents
Preface..........................................................................................................................................xxiii
Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................xxvii
About the Authors .........................................................................................................................xxix
Chapter 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................1
1.1 Definition ..........................................................................................................1
1.2 Plasticulture Development ................................................................................1
1.3 Film Manufacturing .........................................................................................3
1.4 Types and Quality of Plastics Used in Soil and Water Conservation ..............4
1.4.1 Micro-Irrigation ................................................................................5
1.4.2 Protected Cultivation ........................................................................5
1.4.3 Mulching ...........................................................................................7
1.4.4 Reducing Water Usage in Agriculture ..............................................8
1.5 Production Agriculture and Postharvest Management ....................................9
1.5.1 Postharvest and Storage Management ............................................10
1.5.2 Fruit and Vegetable Packaging .......................................................10
1.5.3 Silage Cover ....................................................................................11
1.6 Preference of Plasticulture .............................................................................11
1.7 Importance of Plastics ....................................................................................12
1.8 Types of Plastics .............................................................................................12
1.8.1 Thermoplastic and Thermosetting Plastics ....................................12
1.8.2 Types of Thermoplastics and Their Uses .......................................13
1.8.3 Types of Thermosetting Polymers and Their Uses .........................13
1.9 Plasticulture in India ......................................................................................14
1.10 How Plastic Is Used ........................................................................................15
1.11 Status of Plastics .............................................................................................15
1.12 Agencies Involved in Promotion of Plasticulture in India .............................16
1.12.1 Formation of NCPAH .....................................................................16
Questions ....................................................................................................................16
Multiple-Choice Questions ........................................................................................16
Answers ......................................................................................................................17
References ..................................................................................................................17
Chapter 2 Plastic Film Properties ...............................................................................................19
2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................19
2.2 Polymer...........................................................................................................19
2.3 Classification of Polymers ..............................................................................20
2.3.1 Classification of Polymers Based on the Source of Availability ....20
2.4 Thermoplastics ...............................................................................................20
2.5 Polyethylene....................................................................................................21
2.5.1 Classification ...................................................................................21
2.6 Low-Density Polyethylene ..............................................................................21
2.6.1 Application of LDPE Areas ............................................................23
2.7 High-Density Polyethylene .............................................................................23
2.8 LDPE Application for Film Blowing and Extrusion ......................................23
vii
viii Contents
2.9 Cross-Linked Polyethylene .............................................................................23
2.10 General Properties and Test Method of LDPE ...............................................24
2.11 Polymerization ...............................................................................................24
2.11.1 High-Pressure Polymerization ........................................................24
2.11.2 Natural Polymers ............................................................................26
2.11.3 Semisynthetic Polymers ..................................................................26
2.11.4 Synthetic Polymers .........................................................................26
2.12 Classification of Polymers Based on the Structure ........................................26
2.12.1 Linear-Chain Polymers ...................................................................26
2.12.2 Branched-Chain Polymers ..............................................................26
2.12.3 Cross-Linked Polymers ..................................................................26
2.13 Classification of Polymers Based on Mode of Synthesis ...............................27
2.13.1 Addition Polymers ..........................................................................27
2.14 Classification of Polymers Based on Monomers ............................................27
2.14.1 Homomer ........................................................................................27
2.14.2 Heteropolymer or Copolymer .........................................................27
2.15 Classification Based on Molecular Forces .....................................................27
2.15.1 Elastomers .......................................................................................27
2.15.2 Fibers ..............................................................................................27
2.15.3 Condensation Polymers ..................................................................27
2.15.4 Thermosetting Polymers .................................................................28
2.16 Structure of Polymers .....................................................................................28
2.17 Types of Polymers ..........................................................................................28
2.17.1 Classification Based on the Type of Backbone Chain ....................28
Organic Polymers ...........................................................................28
Inorganic Polymers .........................................................................28
2.17.2 Classification on the Basis of Their Synthesis ................................28
2.18 Biodegradable Polymers .................................................................................29
2.18.1 High-Temperature Polymers ...........................................................29
2.19 Properties of Polymers ...................................................................................29
2.19.1 Physical Properties .........................................................................29
2.19.1.1 Degree of Polymerization and Molecular Weight .....29
2.19.1.2 Molecular Mass of Polymers.....................................29
2.19.1.3 Number Average Molecular Weight ..........................29
2.19.1.4 Weight Average Molecular Weight ...........................30
2.19.1.5 Polydispersity Index or Heterogeneity Index ............30
2.19.2 Mechanical Properties ....................................................................31
2.19.2.1 Tensile Strength .........................................................31
2.19.2.2 Young’s Modulus of Elasticity ..................................31
2.19.3 Transport Properties .......................................................................31
2.19.4 Chemical Properties .......................................................................32
2.19.5 Optical Properties ...........................................................................32
2.19.6 Electrical Properties .......................................................................32
2.20 Polymer Extrusion ..........................................................................................32
2.20.1 Variance Between Single- and Twin-Screw Extruders ..................34
2.20.2 Distinctive Zones of Single- and Twin-Screw Extruders ...............35
2.21 Die and Screw Parameters .............................................................................35
Short Questions ..........................................................................................................36
Multiple-Choice Questions ........................................................................................37
Answer........................................................................................................................37
References ..................................................................................................................37
Contents ix
Chapter 3 Micro-Irrigation .........................................................................................................39
3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................39
3.2 History of Micro-Irrigation ............................................................................40
3.2.1 General Principles of Micro-Irrigation .............................................41
3.2.1.1 Wetting Patterns Under Micro-Irrigation .....................41
3.3 Advantages .....................................................................................................41
3.3.1 Water Saving .....................................................................................41
3.3.2 Lower Water Application Rates ........................................................42
3.3.3 Improved Fertilizer and Chemical Application ................................43
3.3.4 Water Sources with High Salinity ....................................................44
3.3.5 Improved Crop Yield ........................................................................44
3.3.6 Feasibility for Any Topography ........................................................44
3.3.7 Other Advantages .............................................................................45
3.4 Disadvantages .................................................................................................45
3.4.1 Clogging ...........................................................................................45
3.4.2 High Maintenance Costs...................................................................45
3.4.3 Salt Accumulation at Root Zone Periphery ......................................45
3.4.4 Moisture Distribution .......................................................................45
3.4.5 Restricted Root Development ...........................................................46
3.4.6 High Cost of Drip Irrigation Systems ...............................................46
3.5 Need of Micro-Irrigation ................................................................................46
3.6 Types of Micro-Irrigation ...............................................................................46
3.6.1 Online Emitter/Dripper System ........................................................47
3.6.2 Inline Drip System ............................................................................47
3.6.2.1 J-Turbo Line ..................................................................47
3.6.2.2 J-Turbo Aqua .................................................................47
3.6.2.3 Twin-Wall Drip Tap ......................................................47
3.6.3 Micro Jets..........................................................................................48
3.6.4 Mini Sprinklers .................................................................................48
3.7 Drip Irrigation ................................................................................................48
3.7.1 Components of Drip Irrigation System ............................................49
3.8 Sprinkler Irrigation ........................................................................................49
3.8.1 Components of Sprinkler Irrigation System .....................................50
3.9 Installation of Micro-Irrigation Systems ........................................................50
3.10 Maintenance and Troubleshooting .................................................................51
3.11 Micro-Irrigation under Protected Cultivation ................................................51
3.12 World Scenario of Micro-Irrigation System ..................................................52
3.13 Micro-Irrigation Potential in India .................................................................54
3.14 Conclusion ......................................................................................................55
Questions ....................................................................................................................55
Multiple-Choice Questions ........................................................................................55
Answers ......................................................................................................................56
References ..................................................................................................................56
Chapter 4 Design and Components of Micro-Irrigation .............................................................59
4.1 Definition ........................................................................................................59
4.2 General System Design ..................................................................................59
4.2.1 Initial Assessment .............................................................................60
4.3 Objectives of Design ......................................................................................63