Role of mulching in crop production

1. 1
ROLE OF MULCHING
IN
CROP PRODUCTION
Presented By :
Mandeep Kaur
M.Sc. Fruit Science 3rd Semester
Submitted To :
Dr. Amarjeet Kaur

2. CONTENTS
 Introduction to mulching.
 Types of mulches – organic and inorganic mulches.
 Comparison between organic & inorganic mulches.
 Laying of mulch film in fruits and vegetables.
 Selection & thickness of the mulch film.
 Irrigation and fertilizer application in mulched areas.
 Degradation of the plastic mulch film.
 Response of plastic mulching on yield of fruits & vegetables.
 Merits & demerits of mulching.
 Conclusion.
 References. 2

3. (1). INTRODUCTION TO MULCHING
 The quality of food we eat, water we drink and air
we breathe – in fact the well being of all plant and
animal life – is determined by the quality of our
top soil.
 The earth’s crucial thin layer of soil i.e. top soil
must be protected, maintained & nourished.
 The restoration of soil health and addition of plant
nutrients to soil can be done by MULCHING.
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4. 4
What is mulching ?
Mulching is the process of covering soil around the plants with an
organic or synthetic material to create congenial condition for the plant
growth, development and efficient production (Bakshi et al 2015).

5. 5
The term mulch was first coined by Waggoner in 1960.
The word mulch was probably derived from the German word
“molsch” which means soft to decay. It has been referred to the
gardener’s use of straw and leaves, as a soil cover (Jacks et al 1995).
It is also known as Sheet composting.

6. (1. B). REASONS FOR MULCHING
 Unfortunately, Mulching does not perform instant miracles,
but it encourages better plant growth & development.
 These benefits adds on to the mulched area, whether plants
are growing in the coolest or hottest climates.
6
Mulch is used for following purposes :-
• To conserve moisture.
• To lower soil temperature around plant roots.
• To reduce the weed growth (Manoj et al 2015).

7. (1. C). WHAT DO MULCH DO ?
 Mulch insulates and protects soil from drying & hard
baking effects caused by evaporation of water from soil.
 It breaks the force of rain & irrigation water, thereby
preventing soil compaction.
 It prevent splashing of mud & certain plant disease
organisms onto plants during rain or overhead irrigation.
 The mulch covering excludes light, which prevents
germination of weed seeds. So, fewer weeds provide less
competition for using available moisture & nutrients.
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8. (2). MULCHING MATERIAL
 The material used for mulching is known as mulching
material. It may be organic or synthetic.
8
Organic mulches degrade easily and they are locally
available usually and are on-farm produced. There is no
issue of post utilization handling. For example:- Leaves,
straw, grass etc.
Synthetic mulches are synthesized ones and they need
prior work before use them in the field. They are easily
available, easy to handle, transport & lay.
For example:- Plastic films.

9. 9
Mulches
A. Organic mulches B. Synthetic mulches

10. (A). ORGANIC MULCHES
 The organic materials such as crop residues, farm yard
manure & by-products of timber industry, when used for
mulching, are known as Organic mulches.
 They do not suppress weeds, reduce crusting and preserve
moisture. But, their gradual decomposition adds organic
matter to the soil.
 Organic mulches help nutrients reach plant roots. They also
nurture beneficial bacteria, fungi, insects and worms.
 They do not create any post utilization disposal problem,
but their availability is an issue.
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11. 11
Organic mulches
a. Grass
b. Paddy straw
c. Saw dust
d. Sugarcane trash

12. A. GRASS
 Grass has low C:N ratio.
 Later on, grass releases nitrogen to the crops.
 This nitrogen helps in promoting photosynthesis and general
plant health.
12
Picture Source :- Google Chrome

13. B. PADDY STRAW
 Paddy straw has an unique property of not absorbing water,
so water is easily available to plants.
 It introduces weeds as well as creates an environment for
pests like slugs and rodents.
 It has the longest life span among all the organic mulches.
13
Strawberry Cauliflower
Picture
Source :-
Google
Chrome

14. C. SAW DUST
 Sawdust is small granular chip wood that is obtained as the
finished product in the saw mills.
 It has high C:N ratio. It requires nitrogen from the soil for
decomposition. However, it retains the moisture for longer
periods.
 It is easy to apply and inexpensive. But, it should be used in
well-rotten state for better results.
14
Picture Source :- Google Chrome

15. D. SUGARCANE TRASH
 After removal of juice from the sugarcane, the residue i.e.
sugarcane trash, is used for mulching.
 It helps to tide over the drought.
 It conserves moisture and reduces weed growth.
 This type of mulching should be avoided in areas where there
is incidence of termites.
15
Picture source :-
Guava Orchard,
Khalsa College Amritsar.

16. (B). SYNTHETIC MULCHES
 The in-organic materials such as plastic films, when used
for mulching, are known as synthetic mulches or in-organic
mulches.
 Natural degradation of organic mulches necessitates the
application of synthetic mulches. So, they are also known as
Non-degradable mulches.
 Synthetic mulches are available in different colors as well as
in different thickness. They should be removed and disposed
off at the end of the growing season.
 They are much expensive as compared to organic mulches.
16

17. 17
b. Black plastic mulch
c. Transparent plastic mulch
d. Degradable mulch
e. Selectively permeable mulch
a. White plastic mulch
f. Photo-selective plastic mulch
Synthetic mulches

18. A. WHITE PLASTIC MULCH
 It reflects more light to the plant as compared to black mulch.
 It is good for establishing crops under hot summer conditions.
 It has little effect on soil temperature. It keeps soil temp. down.
 Most importantly, it repels some insects.
18Guava tree
Picture source :- Guava Orchard,
Khalsa College Amritsar
Zucchini
Picture source :- Centre of Excellence for
Vegetables, Kartarpur, Punjab

19. B. BLACK PLASTIC MULCH
 Black plastic mulch is the most predominating colored mulch
used in plant production and it acts as an opaque blackbody
absorber and radiator.
 It absorbs most UV, visible, and infrared wavelengths of
incoming solar radiation. It does not allow sunlight to pass
through on to the soil. So, it retards weed growth.
 It warms soil during winter season & encourages plant growth.
19
Strawberry Guava tree

20. C. TRANSPARENT PLASTIC MULCH
 Transparent plastic mulch absorbs little solar radiation but
transmits only 85% to 95% of incoming solar radiation.
 It drastically raises the soil temperature and affect the plant
growth adversely. So, it is often referred to as Mini Greenhouse
Effect.
 It requires herbicides to prevent weed growth under it.
 It is known as Clear plastic mulch also.
20
Guava tree Strawberry

21. SOIL SOLARIZATION WITH CLEAR FILM
 Soil solarization is an environment friendly method of using
solar power for controlling soil borne plant pathogens. It can
be done by mulching with clear plastic mulch.
 This mulch disinfects the soil in order to reduce soil borne
diseases and some weeds.
 Furthermore, this film is quite useful for successful nursery
raising.
21
Soil Solarization
Picture
Source :-
Google
Chrome

22. D. DEGRADABLE MULCH
 Degradable mulch has ability to degrade after receiving a
critical amount of sunlight.
 When the film receives sufficient sunlight, it become brittle
and develops cracks and holes.
 Eventually, the film break down into small flakes and disappear
in the soil.
 This mulch may be Bio degradable or Photo degradable.
22
Picture
Source :-
Google
Chrome

23. D.1. BIO-DEGRADABLE MULCH
 Biodegradable plastics are made with starches from plants
such as corn, wheat, and potatoes.
 They are broken down by microbes.
 Biodegradable mulch performs just as polyethylene film
works on tomato and pepper crops.
 It can simply be ploughed into the ground after harvest.
23

24. D.2. PHOTO-DEGRADABLE MULCH
 Photodegradable mulch film has the same qualities as other
black or clear plastic film, but is formulated to break down
after a certain number of days of exposure to sunlight.
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 They are mostly used in USA. They are as follows :
1. Plastigone
It is an ultraviolet activated & time controlled
biodegradable plastic mulch.
2. Biolane
It is an agricultural mulch film designed to photodegrade,
according to a predetermined schedule into harmless
particles. These particles then biodegrade into carbon
dioxide.

25. E. SELECTIVELY PERMEABLE MULCH
 It is also known as Reflective or colored plastic mulch.
 It allows only certain wavelength of light to pass through the
mulch and warm the soil.
 It discourages weed growth.
 Furthermore, yellow plastic mulch repel whitefly which spread
leaf curl in solanaceous family.
25Root crop Lettuce
Picture source:- Centre of Excellence for Vegetables, Kartarpur, Punjab.

26. F. PHOTO-SELECTIVE PLASTIC MULCH
 Also known as Infra Red Transmitting (IRT) mulch.
 It transmits high proportion of solar infra-red radiation.
 It warms the soil more than black plastic, but cools soils less
than clear plastics. It is effective in reducing weed growth.
 Crops grown on the IRT mulch become ready to harvest 7-10
days earlier than crops grown with black plastic mulch.
26
Picture source:- Centre of Excellence for Vegetables, Kartarpur, Punjab.

27. 27
Comparison between organic & inorganic mulches
Organic mulches Inorganic mulches
It includes any material of natural origin
such as grass, straw, leaves & saw dust
that decomposes naturally.
It includes inorganic materials such as
plastic films.
It has relatively low cost, especially if
reusing farm waste and crop residues.
It is much expensive than organic
mulches.
It is not easily available in large
quantities.
It is often available in large quantities at
commercial centers.
High replacement frequency. Low maintenance as well as low
replacement frequency.
High decomposition rate. Low decomposition rate.
Difficult to handle, transport and lay. Easy to handle, transport and lay.
It do not suppress weed growth. It drastically suppresses weed growth.

28. (4). LAYING OF MULCH FILMS
 Plastic films are laid before crop planting or
transplanting. This includes preparation of seed bed,
spread of mulch film and anchoring of edges of the
film.
 These operations are very time consuming, costly &
tedious.
 The laying of mulch film in fruits and vegetable crops
consists of different steps.
28

29. STEPS FOR LAYING OF MULCH IN FRUIT CROPS
29
a. Sizing of the film
b. Cutting of the film
c. Cleaning & watering before fixing the film
d. Fixing of the film

30. (A). SIZING OF THE FILM
Mulching area should be equivalent to the canopy of the
plant.
Larger the canopy, larger the area of mulching and vice versa.
Required size of mulch film is cut from the mulch roll.
Equal length as well as breadth should be maintained.
30
Picture source :- Practical manual on plastic mulching By National
Committee on Plasticulture Application in Horticulture.

31. (B). CUTTING OF THE FILM
 Cut the film in star shape as illustrated. Cut the film using a
scissor from the middle of one side to the center of the mulch
film.
 The film could be cut either in the field or in a clean, neat
place and carried to the field.
31
Picture source :- Practical manual on plastic mulching By National
Committee on Plasticulture Application in Horticulture.

32. (C).CLEANING & WATERING BEFORE FIXING FILM
 Clean the required area around the plant by removing
stones, pebbles, weeds etc.
 Till the soil well and apply a small quantity of water before
mulching.
32
Picture source :- Practical manual on plastic mulching By
National Committee on Plasticulture Application in Horticulture.

33. (D). FIXING OF THE FILM
 If required, a small trench could be made around the
periphery of the mulching area to facilitate anchoring of the
mulch film.
 Open the film from the cut portion and insert the tree/plant
in between the cut portion and cover the entire area.
 The cut portion of the film should be overlapped.
 The overlapped portion of the film could also be sealed using
metal hooks.
33
Picture source :- Practical manual on plastic mulching By National Committee on
Plasticulture Application in Horticulture.

34. POINTS TO PONDER
 Semi circular holes could be made at the four corners of
the film in order to facilitate water movement.
 The position of the opening should be parallel to the wind
direction. Otherwise, it will facilitate entry of air through the
opening and result in tearing of mulch film.
 Cover the corners of the film with 4-6 inches of soil on all
sides to keep the film in position.
34
Picture source :-
Practical manual on plastic
mulching By National Committee
on Plasticulture Application in
Horticulture.

35. LAYING OF MULCH FILM IN VEGETABLE CROPS
 Thin film of 20 to 25 microns is used for mulching in
vegetables.
 Required length of film for one row of crop is taken and
folded at required spacing of the crop.
 Round holes are made at the centre of the film using a
pipe and a hammer.
 Alternatively, a heated pipe end could be used.
Punching of holes in films 35
Picture source :- Practical manual on plastic mulching By National
Committee on Plasticulture Application in Horticulture.

36. LAYING OF MULCH FILM CAN BE DONE BY
FOLLOWING THREE WAYS :-
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a. Fixing of film on beds for planting
b. Fixing of film for transplantation
c. Fixing of film for established seedlings

37. (A). FIXING OF FILM ON BEDS FOR PLANTING
 Till the soil well and apply the required quantity of FYM and
fertilizer before mulching.
 One end of the mulch film is anchored in the soil and the
film is unrolled along the row of planting.
 Mulch film is then inserted into the soil on all sides to keep it
intact.
 Seeds are sown directly through the holes made on the mulch
film.
37
Picture source :-
Practical manual on
plastic mulching By
National Committee on
Plasticulture Application
in Horticulture.

38. (B). FIXING OF FILM FOR TRANSPLANTATION
 The seedlings could be planted directly into the hole.
 The transplanted plants are not erect and steady. Care should
be taken to see that, the seedlings do not fall on the mulch
film.
 It is advisable to mulch after the establishment of the plants
i.e. after 3 to 7 days of transplantation.
38
Picture source :-
Practical manual on
plastic mulching By
National Committee
on Plasticulture
Application in
Horticulture.

39. (C). FIXING OF FILM FOR ESTABLISHED SEEDLINGS
 One end of the film along the width is buried in the soil and
the mulch film is then unrolled over the saplings.
 During the process of unrolling, the saplings are held in the
hand and inserted into the holes from the bottom side, so
that it could spread on the top side.
39
Picture source :-
Practical manual on
plastic mulching By
National Committee
on Plasticulture
Application in
Horticulture.

40. (5). SELECTION OF MULCH FILMS *
Type of mulch Purpose
Thicker mulch Orchard and plantation
Transparent film Weed control through solarisation
Black film Sandy soil
White film Summer cropped land
Silver color film Insect repellant
Thinner film Early germination
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 Selection of film depends upon the specific purpose to be
achieved such as weed control, raising of soil temperature or
cooling it down, disease control or enhanced plant growth etc.
 The selection of mulches depends on the ecological situation.
* Source: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (Editor) (n.y.)

41. (6). THICKNESS OF FILM *
 In plastic mulching, the thickness of mulch film should be in
accordance with type & age of crops.
 It should be the minimum possible proportionate with desired
life & strength.
 The recommended thickness of mulch films for different crops
is as under:
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Thickness (microns) Crops recommended
7 Groundnut
20-25 Annual - short duration crops
40-50 Biennial - medium duration crops
50-100 Perennial - long duration crops
*Source : Based on Research Findings (2011) of Precision Farming
Developing Center, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry,

42. (7). IRRIGATION PRACTICES
 The best way of irrigating mulched crops is through drip
irrigation.
 In drip irrigation, the lateral pipelines are laid under the
mulch film. Fertilizer could be applied through drip irrigation
system.
42
Lateral pipelines for irrigation are laid under the mulch covering

43.  In flooding, the irrigation water passes through the semi
circular holes on the mulch film. The channels are made along
the un-mulched area and irrigation is carried out.
 Rain water also passes through the holes on the mulch film as
well as through the un-mulched area.
 Irrigation through sprinklers is also possible.
43
Sprinkler Irrigation

44. (8). APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER
44
 In case of drip or sprinkler irrigation, fertilizer application is
done in liquid form through drip or sprinkler irrigation system.
 In flood irrigation, all fertilizers & soil-applied chemicals are
usually placed in or on bed before mulch is applied.

45. (9). DEGRADATION OF PLASTIC MULCH FILM
 During 1st stage of degradation, the film is reduced to a fine
powder. This powder is inert and physiologically harmless to
plants, animals and human beings.
 This is followed by continuous shortening of molecular long
chain structure of polymeric material.
45

46. 46
Merits of mulching
1. Reduces evaporation
3. Reduces soil compaction
5. Insect management strategies
2. Reduces weed growth
4. Mulches aids fumigation
6. Increase in plant growth

47. 7. Root pruning eliminated
8. Increase in soil temperature
10. Reduces fertilizer leaching
9. Cleaner vegetable produce
11. Earlier harvest
12. Frost protection

48. Demerits of mulching
2. Removal and disposal
3. Labor intensive
4. Spread of the diseases
5. Increases crop/weed competition
1. Greater initial cost
48

49. CONCLUSION
 It is essential to find ways to increase the yield and lessen the
cost of production.
 Mulching, is thus, one of the most important cultural
practices which increase growth, yield and quality of fruits
and vegetables crops.
 Due to multiple beneficial effects by all types of mulches
including organic and synthetic, mulching becomes an
inevitable in agriculture production.
49

50. (12). REFERENCES
 Singh B (2005) Protected cultivation of vegetable crops
Kalyani Publishers New Delhi 110002 (India).
 Singh J (2014) Basic Horticulture Kalyani Publishers New
Delhi 110002 (India).
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 Pictures source
1. Google chrome.
2. Centre of Excellence for Vegetables, Kartarpur,
Punjab.
3. Guava orchard Khalsa College, Amritsar.
4. Practical manual on plastic mulching by National
Committee on Plasticulture Application in
Horticulture.

51. THANK
YOU