Agricultural Plastics by State: A Guide for Growers

Which agricultural plastic fits each region of Mexico?

Mexico grows crops in very different climates: hot irrigated deserts, humid and cool coasts, temperate rainfed valleys and frost-prone highlands. One plastic cannot solve all of those problems, so the first step is to define what you want to correct: heat, cold, scarce water, pests, rain or weeds. This guide walks through seven regions where we have a presence and explains which products tend to make the most sense in each. It is a starting point, not a recipe: the field, the crop and the planting date have the final say.

At ICUSA, Industrias de Culiacán S.A. de C.V., we have manufactured plastic films for agriculture and industry since 1967, with our own plant and laboratory in Culiacán, Sinaloa. It is ISO 9001:2015 certified, we hold the ESR distinction and have a presence in eight countries.

Quick map: region, challenge and plastic

What are ICUSA’s eight plasticulture products?

For the soil

Agricultural mulch film is a co-extruded film that makes water and nutrient use more efficient, controls weeds and modifies soil temperature. According to the technical data sheet, it lasts up to 2 years depending on crop, gauge and use. The AgroTIF High Barrier film retains the gases from soil disinfection and solarization. The greenhouse ground cover covers the space between rows to improve hygiene and prevent weeds.

To protect the crop

Greenhouse covers control light and temperature; macro tunnels protect against radiation, wind, rain, frost and hail. The hydroponic grow bag holds the substrate where plants grow in soilless cultivation.

For pests and water

Blue or yellow sticky insect traps help monitor and reduce insect populations in greenhouses and open fields. The water reservoir liner captures and stores rainwater and runoff.

What works in the northwest: Sinaloa, Sonora and Baja California?

This is the zone of irrigation, heat and exports. In Sinaloa, the vegetable cycle starts with warm soil, so white-and-black or silver-and-black mulch film is gaining ground. In Sonora, extreme heat, wind and water scarcity call for macro tunnels and water reservoir liners. In Baja California, delicate berry fruit is protected with macro tunnels, plus green mulch film for strawberries. When the soil must be disinfected before planting, the AgroTIF film comes in.

And in the center and north: Jalisco, Guanajuato, La Laguna and Zacatecas?

Here rainfed farming, altitude and water change the equation. Jalisco uses greenhouses and macro tunnels to withstand rain and hail; sticky insect traps serve as monitoring in those structures. Guanajuato grows vegetables with mulch film, ground cover and hydroponics. In La Laguna the priority is making every liter count, and in Zacatecas the water reservoir liner helps make use of rainfall in rainfed crops.

What benefits does the catalog attribute to plasticulture?

Our catalog defines plasticulture as the use of plastic films to modify the growing environment of plants and to protect plantings from weather, pests and weeds. Among the benefits it lists are improving the crop microenvironment, saving 20% in water consumption, using fewer herbicides and pesticides, protecting food from moisture and contamination, and increasing yields. These are benefits the manufacturer attributes to the technology in general; the result on your plot will depend on the crop, the management and whether the film you choose matches the problem.

Which film properties should you ask about?

Besides color and product, a film is judged by its properties. Mechanical properties include tensile strength, elongation, dart impact and tear resistance: they tell you how much force the film withstands before breaking. Optical properties, such as total light transmission, diffusion and shading, directly affect crop development and productivity. We have our own laboratory to measure these properties. When you ask for a quote, ask about them and about the warranty, not only the price of the roll; a film that tears halfway through the cycle ends up costing more than one that was well chosen.

How do I choose if I have doubts?

1. Define the main problem: water, heat, cold, pests, rain or weeds.
2. Define the crop and the length of the cycle.
3. Choose the layer that solves it: soil (mulch film), cover (macro tunnel or greenhouse) or infrastructure (reservoir liner).
4. Ask a technical advisor for the film properties, not just the price.

Where can I find ICUSA in my state?

We serve growers in Sinaloa, Sonora, Durango, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Jalisco, Guanajuato and all of Mexico directly from our plant in Culiacán, Sinaloa. Message a technical advisor on WhatsApp at 667 791 3171 or through the contact page to get a recommendation for your area and crop. For handling questions, see the usage recommendations.