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DIFFERENT MULCHES IN DRY LAND AGRICULTURE

DEFINITION OF MULCHAny material used (spread) at surface or

vertically in soil to assist soil and water conservation and soil productivity is called mulch

Materials used for mulches are crop residues,levees,bark manures,paper, plastic films,petroleum products and graves.

Types of mulches

PLASTIC FILM Plastic film are more widely used as mulch they help in maintaining higher water content in soil resulted from reduced evaporation, induced infiltration, reduced transpiration from weeds or combination of the factors

PETROLIUM PRODUCTS These are less expensive than plastic films and more readily applicable materials

e.g. petroleum and asphalt spray resins etc CROP RESIDUES OR STUBBLE MULCH Crop residues and other plant waste products

(straw, cloves, leaves, corn and straw dust) are widely used as mulch these materials are cheep and often readily available these materials are maintain at adequate level. These materials results in incresed water content and redused evaporation

VERTICAL MULCH Vertical mulch is a technique which consists of

digging suitable trenches across the slope and thus making more surface are a available for water absorption.the open trenches are likely get silted in short period. This however can be prevented by inserting organic form waste materials like straw stubbles or stalks which is called filter. The filter should be resistant to decomposition and provide service for 3-4 years.

SOIL OR DUST MULCH If the surface of the soil is loosened, it acts as

mulch for reducing evaporation. This loose surface of soil is called soil mulch or dust mulch. Interculturing creates soil mulch creates soil mulch in growing crops and helps in closing deep cracks in vertisols.

EFFECT OF MULCHES ON SOIL

1. SOIL WATER When soil surface is covered with

mulch helps to prevent weed growth, reduce evaporation and increase

infiltration of rain water during growing season. The water obstruct

the solar radiation reaching to soil.

SOIL STRUCTURE Crop residues when applied at

adequate level increases infiltration rate. Decomposition of these residues results in improving soil aggregation and suability. Mulch slows (reduce) velocity of runoff.

SOIL EROSION Soil from dry region nightly

susceptible to water erosion and wind erosion because rainfall occurrence is frequent during intense storms and surface is adequately protected by vegetation effectively retard runoff. There fore to reduce erosions by wind and water is an important reason for using mulches in dry reasons .

SOIL TEMPERATURE Mulches results in greater water

content and lower the evaporation. However the effect on soil temperature are highly variable. White mulches decreases soil temperature while clear plastic mulches increases soil temperature.

CROP PLANTS The effect of mulches on plants are

operative through the effect of mulches on soil water ,soil temperature , structure and erosion. Reduced evaporation is major reason for the growth of the plants and there by high crop production due to mulch.

ADVANTAGES OF PLASTIC MULCHING It is completely impermeable to water. It prevents direct evaporation of moisture

from the soil and that limits the water losses and conserves moisture.

by evaporation suppression, it prevents the rise of water containing salts.

mulches can also provide a barrier to soil pathogens.

Reflective mulches will repel certain insects.

Synthetic mulches play a major role in soil solarisation process.

Less nematodes population. under mulch, the structure is maintained

during cropping period.

LIMITATIONS Environmental pollution. more runoff. Difficulty in machinery movement. Cannot be used for more than one season

using thin mulches. Weed penetration with thin films. Toxic to livestock.

SELECTION OF MULCH The selection of mulches depends

upon the ecological situations and primary and secondary aspects of mulches.

Rainy season – perforated mulch. Orchard and plantation -Thicker mulch. Soil solarisation - Thin transparent film. Weed control through solarisation -Transparent film.

Weed control in cropped land -Black film. Sandy soil - Black film. Saline water use – Black film. Summer cropped land - White film. Insect repellent – Silver colour film. Early germination - Thinner film.

ADVANTAGES OF MULCHMulch prevents weed from growing in a

planting bed.Mulch not only beautifies planting beds with

an attractive layer of bare soil.It reduces water use by up to 75% as it

protects the soil from evaporation.It provides valuable nutrients as the mulch

breaks down.Helps to build the soil into a soft friable

mixture, which encourages good plant growth and makes it easier to weed.

Mulch reduces the amount of weeds.

DISADVANTAGES OF MULCHMulch is not been found and effective other

than rabi jawar .In excess rainfall years mulch may not be

effective. It reduces production in dry land is inadequate

to result in sustainable water conservation.Mulch retards the heating of the soil by the

sun, which can inhibit the germination of seeds and growth of seedlings in early spring.

It offers grade cover for small slugs which can be devastating on crops such as peas and carrots.

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