The Various Reasons Why Many Growers Are Using Plastic Sheeting as Covering for Their Greenhouses

Industrial & Manufacturing Blog

With plastic technology drastically advancing over the years, the use of plastic products has become more widespread. One area that has benefited from this trend is the agricultural sector whereby a significant number of growers have embraced the use of plastic sheeting as coverings for greenhouses. If you are pondering over using plastic sheeting as covering for your greenhouse, you should first know about the benefits associated with this kind of greenhouse covering. This way, you can gauge whether or not you should make the investment. 

Here is a look at some top perks you stand to gain should you decide to use plastic sheeting to install your greenhouse covering.

Physical resistance

A greenhouse covering must be strong enough to resist wear and tear if it is exposed to the elements, such as strong winds, heavy rain, hail pellets and heavy snow. Certain improved plastics, like the corrugated types, are designed to hold up well against potential damage by any of the aforementioned weather elements. Of course, you will have to pay extra for the newer, tougher varieties of plastic coverings, but the investment will pay off in the long run due to the extended lifespan.

Light transmission

If you want to grow sun-loving crops, transparent plastic sheeting would make a perfect choice of covering for your greenhouse. Like glass, transparent plastic can allow a significant amount of visible light from the sun to enter the greenhouse. As the sun-loving crops predominantly require this kind of light to flourish, you will be able to yield a large harvest. Some plastic coverings are even designed to interfere with the transmission of certain sun wavelengths in a way that favourably affects the growth of crops.

Heat insulation

Like multi-glazed greenhouse coverings, multi-layered plastic sheeting can be used to insulate the greenhouse from excessive heat loss or gain, but with the extra bonus of being less expensive. Like glass, plastic has good thermal qualities that allow it to block the transmission of heat. However, the farmer has to decide what matters the most to them between heat insulation and light transmission. This is because a multi-layered covering would compromise light transmission. 

Aesthetics

Plastic sheeting can be fabricated in an unlimited range of colours so that growers can easily find a product that will look good on their greenhouses. This way, growers can put up a greenhouse covering that is both functional and visually appealing.

3 April 2017