Plastic Mulch as a Sustainable Solution to Heat-Induced Citrus Decline: Thermal Dynamics and Field Validation

Summary

This study found that covering soil with plastic mulch helped protect lemon trees from heat stress in hot, dry climates by keeping soil temperatures cooler and improving water use, leading to healthier trees and better yields. While this could help farmers grow more resilient citrus crops as the climate warms, it's worth noting that plastic mulch can break down into microplastics over time, which may end up in soil, water, and eventually the food we eat, so the environmental and health tradeoffs of relying on plastic solutions deserve more research.