Data for "Sustainably Intensified Fresh-market Vegetable Production with Compact Bed Plasticulture" by Hansen et. al. 2026

Intensive agricultural system of plasticulture must evolve to increase productivity while reducing resource use and environmental impacts under the climate crisis. We used a system-wide approach to design and evaluate compact beds in plasticulture, a globally used system that employs plastic mulches and drip tapes over raised beds to grow crops. The taller and narrower bed design modifies the plastic-covered soil environment to reduce inputs, losses, and stressors while improving productivity and profits. Experiments with fresh-market pepper showed that compact bed plasticulture (CBP) produced similar or greater yields with 44-50% less inputs, including plastics (mulch and drip tape), pesticides, and water, compared to conventional system. CBP also reduced saturation stress under flooded conditions by improving soil drainage and alleviated biotic stress from waterborne disease (Phytophthora capsici). The CBP system meets multiple Sustainable Development Goals by decreasing carbon emissions (928 CO2 eq./ha), nitrogen pollution (34 kg/ha), subsurface water loss (43 cm), plastic waste, and microplastics. By reducing the use of plastic and minimizing its loss into the environment, the CBP system helps mitigate the growing concerns of microplastic pollution. Additionally, CBP reduces production costs ($1279/ha) and risks for the growers, while offering opportunities for increased production per unit area of farmland.