The term plasticulture refers to the practice of using plastic materials in agricultural applications.
The plastic materials themselves are often and broadly referred to as "ag plastics." Plasticulture ag plastics include soil fumigation film, irrigation drip tape/tubing, nursery pots and silage bags, but the term is most often used to describe all kinds of plastic plant/soil coverings. Such coverings range from plastic mulch film, row coverings, high and low tunnels (polytunnels), to plastic greenhouses.
Polyethylene (PE) is the plastic film used by the majority of growers because of its affordability, flexibility and easy manufacturing. It comes in a variety of thicknesses, such as a low density form (LDPE) as well as a linear low density form (LLDPE). These can be modified by addition of certain elements to the plastic that give it properties beneficial to plant growth such as reduced water loss, UV stabilization to cool soil and prevent insects, elimination of Photosynthetically active radiation to prevent weed growth, IR opacity, antidrip/antifog, and fluorescent films.
Read more about Plasticulture: Greenhouses and Walk-in Tunnel Covers, Small Tunnel Covers, Plastic Mulch, Origins and Development Around The World, Large-scale Usage in Southern Spain, Recycling, See Also