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PRODUCT ANALYSIS <br />(KIODBIE, POIfflsyffl <br />The emergence of Geotextiles — a new age begins. <br />I <br />I T ntU raoently, ttie only weed control <br />^ material that lias been available to <br />the pnfeMional landscape and nunen* <br />Industry was uther a black or clear <br />plastle sheeting made of polyethy lene. <br />Khas been so widely used over the <br />yean that even the most knowledgeable <br />aidittectSt landscapen and hortlcui* <br />tnrists have accepted its use atongwith <br />an of Its inherent problems. <br />Hie shortcomings of “poly**, or vis- <br />fuaenasiCisknowninthelndusto’, are <br />First and foremost, it is a <br />send, non-porous plastic sheet which <br />slows absolutely no exchange of air and <br />wttor between the atmosphere and soil. <br />This precludes the nstu^ and neces* <br />assy sariiange of excess amounts of car­ <br />bon in the soil with life-giving <br />in the atmosphere. It also inhi- <br />by Donald F. Ritterbusch <br />bits the percolation of natural rainfall <br />into dehydrated root zones and prevents <br />any excess soil moisture from exiting <br />saturated soils by ei'aponition and there­ <br />fore It often strangles plant matensl. <br />Carbon dioxide is produced by living <br />matter such as bacteria, fungi and roots, <br />and is constantly accumulating in upper <br />layers of soil, liiere is strong evidence <br />to suggest that a high soil carbon diox­ <br />ide content alone can be toxic to plant <br />raterial. As well, certain plant species <br />i.uy appear to show deficiencies in iron <br />and magnesium from the leaf chlorosis <br />pattern, but instead, the problem is <br />■»imply Insuifident ox> gen in the soil for <br />active root absorption. Since it is essen­ <br />tial to have a sufficient quantity of oxy­ <br />gen present in the surrounding soil for <br />any absorption of water or nutrients, it <br />is imperative that no impervious barrier <br />be present to deter a proper air ex­ <br />change. Frequent errors ore made in <br />diagnosing plan ‘oblems, as nutrient <br />deficiencies and toxic contamination are <br />wrongly blamed for problems created by <br />the use of polyethylene film. The use of <br />poly leads to plant stress, and that <br />creates a greater likelihood of disease <br />and insect infestation. This means prob­ <br />lems for the homeowner and greater <br />costs for the company guarantying the <br />plant material. <br />Polyethylene film suffers from other <br />definite drawbacks. Not the least of <br />these IS its lack of overall strength, <br />which deteriorates rapidly with fluctua­ <br />tions in temperature and even short­ <br />term exposure to the sun or certain <br />fCont. on page 10) <br />4 i <br />S'® <br />& <br />e <br />n <br />Combo • Woven Non- <br />-• I ■ •*}; :* • Woven' <br />.Von-- *Non-*;"“ <br />Woven'*Woveri^‘ <br />ft,#??.." <br />Blend . Pblypro- Polypio- Polypro;’Polj-pio-,.Poj.. <br />I. ...........pylene pylene py»en«..» pylene^ <br />[jpWMtKi«v <br />... .. v-r.-. _Heat * , ‘ Heat^,* <br />j<iiaa<ei smsaaeM«*«ii««-Blk:. :,. Blk.':;;*Bik. v.Dk..Cta> Whit* <br />fs»,;isss!««7»-2 <br />.'U. s*-I <br />, ,i <br />36- •! 28'^** '30* <br />60 60 <br />rta' •: •' • -nw r'‘,' <br />I. n>a^>- •45 •!* <br />^ j ^- * Hi <br />AW|T7r <br />aiNL)tu 06 .. ...05 as 125 <br />260 200 ISO <br />40 <br />125* 140'^ <br />•Xa 27 • <br />' 1 200 2.86 345 <br />65. V- <br />300 . * tVA* * . y2B <br />: Good n>or £xcl.. Excl.ExcL <br />Good Lxet-'•-Exd.... Excl.Good ■ - Exd.r <br />Good Ftir>Good Good . Excl.-' -Exet <br />.63 .59 ...75; ..TB .55 - <br />Colorado Green • Fall 1086 •