The use of plastics has been essential to convert apparently unproductive lands into fertile farms. The plastic covers in greenhouses allow to sow certain types of plants in places where the climate or the circumstances are not suitable in principle for their existence, since they create a special microclimate within their structure.

This is most evident in the winter, when the outside temperature is lower and could damage plants. The main advantages of plastics can be summarized as:

• They allow the passage of maximum sunlight and achieve a good diffusion of it, to facilitate the processes of photosynthesis and plant growth. At the same time, plastics protect plants from the action of unwanted radiation.
• They regulate temperature optimally, creating an insulating thermal barrier between the interior and exterior of the greenhouse. The heat that has been transmitted during the day remains inside the cover, thus compensating for the low night temperatures.
• They provide good humidity control, optimizing the use of water, a vital issue in dry areas.
• El plastic, with adequate resistance to the place in which it is located, protects crops from external forces such as rain or wind, or the impact of elements such as hail.
• It allows cleaner and healthier fruits, by avoiding contact with sludge and reducing the presence of insects.