Fort Collins, CO - Over two seasons (2006 and 2007) researchers at Colorado State University evaluated the utility and performance of two types of floating row cover materials when applied to high tunnels, and compared these to a conventional polyethylene (PE) covered high tunnel. Spun bonded polypropylene (SBP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were selected to see if they could reduce insect-vectored diseases by excluding the insects from the crops, while providing adequate ventilation (unlike PE). A third insect screening material, LS Econet, was included in year two.

Results and practical applications:

• Amortized costs of the materials were similar, so material performance was the determining factor.
• SBP performed poorly under windy conditions. In areas with predictable insect infestation it was determined that LS Econet or PVA would be the better choices.
• Tunnel production results were generally comparable or better than field production results for the same cultivars.

Principal investigator: Frank Stonaker, Dept. of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, tel. 970-491-7068, email Frank.Stonaker@ColoState.edu

Co-investigator: Whitney Cranshaw, Dept. of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, CSU

Project location: CSU Horticulture Field Research Center, Ft. Collins, CO (certified organic since 2002)

OFRF support: $12,428 awarded in spring 2006. Funded in partnership with EPA Region 8.

Full project report: 25 pages, submitted February 2008.