Mulching is an eco-friendly agricultural practice that improves the overall health of the soil. In organic farming, the land is covered with a layer of natural organic mulch such as straw, crop residue, compost, dry leaves, grass, or manure. Only dried organic matter is used for this purpose as green vegetation needs a long period to decompose, eventually causing pests and fungus. As the mulch retains moisture in the soil, it is helpful for commercial crop production in hot and dry areas.
- Organic mulch: Organic mulch includes dried organic matter such as farm waste, crop residue, straw, grass, trimmings of trees and shrubs, stubbles. It is decomposed over time and adds essential nutrients to the soil.
- Synthetic mulch: The other alternative to organic mulch is synthetic mulch such as black plastic sheets, fabric, cardboard, asphalt. But it doesn't improve soil quality by adding nutrients. Besides, it is inefficient in soil temperature regulation.
- Retains soil moisture: Several abiotic factors such as high winds, weeds, high-temperature levels, and extreme weather conditions can convert the soil into barren land. Mulching helps in soil moisture conservation. It decreases the moisture evaporation rate to 35% and boosts the infiltration properties of soil.
- Reduce irrigation requirement of the crop: Mulching protects runoff of rainfall thus minimizing the irrigation requirement of crops. Also, it reduces the supplemental irrigation needs at the
- Protects soil erosion: Soil compaction and erosion have become a major concern in the farming industry. The layer of mulches on the land breaks the speed of water hence reducing soil erosion.
- Maintains soil temperature: Mulching plays an important role in organic farming by maintaining the soil temperature. In warm climates, the water requirement of crops increases due to increased evaporation rates. Therefore, the mulches keep the soil surface cool and minimize water loss due to evaporation. It is also beneficial to maintain a normal soil temperature during chilling weather.
- Improves soil quality: The main aim of organic farming is to improve soil quality by adding organic matter to the soil. The layer of mulch decomposes with time and adds nutrients to the soil, hence improving the overall soil health. Moreover, it adds microorganisms to the topsoil that helps in decomposing the organic matter. However, organic mulch should be managed carefully because it may be harmful to the water resources.
- Controls weed population organically: The practice of mulching effectively controls the weed population in organic farming. When the land is covered by the layer of mulch, it blocks the sunlight supply to the small-seeded weed species. As a result, the weeds fail to carry out photosynthesis that leads to the death of these small plants. Some mulches decompose and release toxins that can destroy the weeds by retarding their seed germination.