What is Mulching?
Mulching is a conservative agricultural practices that involves the use of polythene sheet, grasses, and crop residue for covering the soil surface to prevent direct sunlight from scorching the plant. It is a post planting operation usually carried out during the dry season to minimize the impact of climate change on the crops.
During the dry season, and due to the effect of climate change, farmers often cover the soil surface with plant materials such as dry grass, polythene bags, twigs, crop residues, straw, and other plant materials, which help prevent excessive moisture loss and heat, caused by the direct exposure of the crop to sunlight.
Most agricultural crops, such as pepper, tomatoes, yam, amaranths, and more, at the tender growth stage require adequate mulching for effective growth and development. As these plants grow to a certain height, these mulching materials are either deliberately remove or allow to decomposed, thereby enrich the soil and improve soil fertility.
It is a soil conservation practice that helps to conserve moisture and enhance the activities of soil organisms. Although mulching is an ancient practices that is has become a modern technology of maintaining soil health. A lot of research and experimentation in the agricultural industries has proven that mulch cover is an indispensable method of conserving soil moisture.
The materials use for mulch cover encourage the activities of soil organisms, which help to create plenty of smaller and larger pores through which rainwater can easily infiltrate into the soil, reduce surface runoff, and improve soil structure.
Tip for Mulching in Agriculture
Mulch cover in crop production requires some crucial tips which is necessary to attain the specific objectives.
- Apply mulching during the dry season or period of drought, because the aim of mulching is to conserve moisture.
- Ensure that the plants’ exposure to intense sunlight may have a negative effect on the plants, except for aesthetic mulching.
- Get mulching material such as dry grass, polythene bags, twigs, crop residues, and straw readily available when needed.
- Choose the type of mulching according to the land preparation: for heap capping can be practiced; for ridges, the entire ridges can be covered; and for flat land, the whole field can be covered.
- For nursery crops, cover immediately after sowing, planting or broadcasting and remove after full germination.
- For an already germinated plant, mulch plants a few inches away from stems and trunks to prevent rot and allow for proper aeration.
- When polythene material, such as rubber or plastic sheeting, is used, remove it immediately after the aim is achieved because they do not decompose.
- for aesthetic mulching ensure that stone or pebble are use to suppress weed growth.
Materials Used for Mulching.
The following are some of the materials used for mulch cover in agriculture.
- Sawdust: refers to small pieces of wood generated during wood sawing. It is an excellent mulching material that helps conserve moisture and boost the presence of soil microorganisms. Unlike polythene sheets, sawdust is biodegradable and environmentally friendly.
- Hay: hay are dry grasses harvested during raining season and carefully packed for feeding ruminate animals. Hay serves as a good mulching material for conserving moisture. It is readily available and can be prepared by farmers without special technical skills.
- Straw: This is similar to hay but different because it consists of dry stalks, usually packed as a bale. It is an excellent mulching material in a nursery and can be used to induce germination and protect seedlings.
- Groundnut shell: the shells from groundnut and leguminous crops can be used as mulching materials in the farm. The groundnut shell helps to retain moisture and prevent evaporation. Although it may not be easily available in large quantities, it serves as a good habitat for soil organisms.
- Leaves and dry grass: these are the most common mulch covers used for much of the farm. They are easily sourced, decompose to enrich the soil with organic matter. Leaves and dry grasses do not obstruct the germination or growth of seedlings, and they are generally used on the farm.
- Wood chips: This is similar to saw dust, but the wood chips are bigger on the inside. They serve as a good source of mulching materials because they are biodegradable and are good at conserving soil moisture.
- Polythene sheet: The polythene sheet is a modern mulching material used in crop production. They are a good source of mulch cover material for already germinated crops or seedlings, and can be used for larger hectares of land. Polythene sheets are easy to source but require high capital. The polythene material is non-biodegradable, and as such, care must be taken to avoid damaging germinated seedlings during use.
- Stone, gravel, and pebbles: these are mainly mulch cover for ornamental plant such as flower. They help suppress weed growth and conserve moisture. Stone, gravel, and pebble are not normally used in the farm, hence they are excellent mulching materials for flower planted in pots or trays for conserving moisture. This is used mostly environment where electricity or irrigation system are affected during raining season.
Advantages of Mulching
the advantage of mulch cover as highlighted by West African Examination of Councils (WAEC, 2018) of Nigeria are
- Help conserve soil moisture
- Suppress weed
- Reduces soil erosion
- Improve the activities of soil
- Reduce fruit rot and fungal disease attack
- Add nutrient to soil when decaye.
- Prevent scotching of plant rots/ moderate soil temperature
- for aesthetic mulching it can be use to beautify the environment.
Disadvantages of Mulching
The follow are the disadvantage of mulch cover of in agriculture.
- it is capital intensive as it require a lot of fund for the purchase of mulching materials.
- it is time and energy consuming.
- if not remove untimed, it can lead crop deformity.
- it can serve as hiding place for pest and disease attach on crops.