PA--Precision Agriculture Air-tightness of Wrapped Bales and Resistance of Polythene Stretch Film under Tropical and Temperate Conditions

Stretch film, used for wrapping bales for silage, reacts very differently in the tropical Réunion Island compared to use in a temperate climate. Tropical climatic conditions have an adverse effect on the physical properties of the polythene film, in particular air-tightness, resistance to radiation and resistance to high temperatures. Modelling air-tightness tests has contributed to a better understanding of the effects of atmospheric conditions on measurements of pressure differences: temperature and air humidity have relatively little effect, while altitude has a major effect. If the measurements are made with a time lapse between wrapping and testing, tests can be used to compare the air-tightness of the bale wrapped with different films. The service life of film exposed on frames and wrapped roll bales provides the information needed to select film that can be stretched and can provide lasting air-tightness. The results contribute to the knowledge base on film that can be stretched under difficult conditions and on a certification methodology.