The Applications of HDPE for Agriculture

What are the uses and applications of HDPE for Agriculture? If you’re like most people, you probably use plastic every single day. Whether you store your shampoo in a plastic bottle, store food in plastic containers, eat your food off plastic dinnerware, or work in an industry that relies on any number of plastic items, this material touches your life in a million different ways.
Plastics tend to get a bad reputation when it comes to eco-friendliness, but many of them are recyclable and help streamline countless industries. Agriculture, an industry that is the backbone of our society, relies on plastics more than many people think.

If you work in agriculture, you know there are countless ways to use plastics to improve and maintain your efforts. In this article, you will learn some of the agricultural applications of high-density polyethylene. While HDPE for agricultural has a multitude of different uses, these are some of the most effective and common. The materials we’ll cover include:

• Irrigation pipes
• Fire system supply lines
• Cage fish farming
• Plastic mulch
• Horse fencing

Irrigation Pipes

Irrigation pipes are one of the most common uses for HDPE for the agriculture industry. HDPE is a common material for irrigation pipes because of its high resistance to corrosion and exceptional weather tolerance.

One quality that makes HDPE perfect for making irrigation pipes is its light weight and flexibility. Setup is a breeze when you’re using HDPE pipes. This material manages to maintain a light weight while boasting a toughness that can stand up to even harsh conditions.

As a bonus, irrigation pipes made of HDPE often come with long-term savings, as they will not require nearly as much maintenance and repair as other irrigation pipe materials may need.

Fire System Supply Lines

Many agricultural areas and businesses are quite far from other places. This makes fire safety a concern for your farm or ranch. Using plastic or HDPE piping for your fire system supply lines is a great option to help keep water readily available in case of any issues.

HDPE is an ideal material for fire system supply lines for multiple reasons. For example: :

• It is highly resistant to corrosion.
• It is strong and resists damage.
• It can reduce costs.
• It is flexible.

These are just a few of the many reasons HDPE is the right choice of material for any fire system supply lines you need in the agricultural field.

Drainage Pipes

Drainage pipes are another great example of the agricultural applications of high-density polyethylene. Agriculture typically requires drainage pipes to transfer fluids or gasses. These we once made of concrete or steel, but those options are not sustainable and are often costly to repair and replace as they deteriorate.

HDPE is now the industry standard, as it is impermeable and has a strong molecular bond. These qualities make it perfect for use in high-pressure pipelines and drainage pipes. The industry also considers HDPE the best option for any underground water lines since it is non-toxic, tasteless, corrosion-resistant, and a green building material.

Cage Fish Farming

Agriculture is more than farms and ranches; much of agriculture takes place in the sea. Fishing is an essential part of agriculture and food cultivation. Using HPDE cages for fish farming quickly became an industry standard practice over the course of the past few decades.

HDPE works for fishing applications in the sea, groundwater, rivers, lakes, on beaches, and many more places. Anywhere commercial fishing is allowed, you are likely to find a few of these HDPE cages.

The practice first became popular hundreds of years ago in the late 1300s. Here is why it is still the best option for cage fish farming:

• It has a low cost compared to other fishing type options.
• It makes observing and studying fish easier.
• The material is corrosion-resistant, perfect for water environments.
• It lasts a long time, even in harsh oceanic conditions.

There are many benefits to cage fish farming, and HDPE in the agriculture industry makes it possible.

Plastic Mulch

Plastic mulch is another thing HDPE can turn into that you might not know about. In agriculture, mulching is an essential part of maintaining soil health. It helps to reduce the growth of weeds on the soil’s surface. Mulching prevents sunlight from hitting the soil and spurring new life in undesirable ways.

Plastic mulching helps to reduce the amount of water that soil loses because it minimizes evaporation. This is a huge advantage; the more moisture the soil retains, the less additional water it needs to receive via an irrigation system.

Moist soil due to mulching with HDPE also prevents uneven patches of moisture in the soil, leading to reduced plant stress and increased consistency in crop yields.

Here are a few of the benefits of using HDPE mulch over other forms:

• It improves the texture of the soil for plants
• It insulates the soil naturally
• It promotes earlier crop yields
• It works to prevent weeds
• It reduces the risk of root damage
• It generally yields higher-quality crops due to the improved conditions.

Horse Fencing

Investing in a plastic horse fence is a wise choice many in the agricultural industry make. In barns that house horses, it’s important that the horses have a safe environment that does not budge at their immense weight—even when they become agitated.

To contain and corral horses, you need a material that is as strong as they are—and horses are very strong. Making a fence or gate out of HDPE ensures your horses are safe and will not escape their enclosures, even if they get spooked.

HDPE for Agriculture

There are countless applications for HDPE in all industries, but it is especially crucial for agricultural applications. HDPE is a great option for your agricultural needs in multiple applications. Check out our wide range of options.

Here at Tangent Materials, we pride ourselves on our experience and reliability—in fact, we have been recognized for our work in the recycled plastic lumber industry since 2003. From synthetic landscape timbers to plastic horse fencing, we have everything you need. Our passion to innovate is what pushes us to create superior materials. Contact us today for more information.