I'd rather hear from someone who has used it than from the manufacturer as naturally they will put some spin on the results, I am always dubious when I hear unsupported allegations like these. the following quote is from a book in my pepper library - Peppers: Vegetable And Spice Capsicums by PW Bosland (Paul Bosland of NMSU Bhut Jolokia fame) and EJ Votava:
"Plastic mulch can affect the microclimate to change the growth and development of pepper plants. The mulch surface colour affects the growth and development of bell pepper plants. In areas where late summer or autumn plantings are possible and soil warming is not beneficial, a white-surfaced mulch is often used. Pepper plants growing over red mulch are taller and heavier as compared with plants grown over black and yellow mulch (Decoteau et al 1990). Mulch colour did not affect leaf area per plant. Darker colours of mulch (red and black) reflected less total light and far-red and red light and also warmed the soil more than yellow and white (Decoteau et al 1990).
White mulches can modify the radian energy levels entering a foliage canopy by increasing the soil surface reflectance. Gerard and Chambers (1967) reported that reflective coatings increased the yield of bell peppers over irrigated bare ground plots. Dufault and Wiggins (1981) reported that plants grown over white mulch were shorter, fruited earlier, and produced higher overall yields than unmulched plants. Reflective mulches increased earliness and yield."
there is more, much more, they go on to discuss aluminium mulch, plastic, spraying reflective coatings onto paper mulch etc. what do I use? sugar cane mulch. I grow in terracotta pots. the mulch is very light in colour so reflects light back up into the foliage, helps reduce heat and breaks down to add to the compost. it's also a little difficult for snails to traverse.
