Introduction

The technique of mulching is the easiest practice that you can undertake for your garden that will produce unimaginable results. Mulch comes in
two basic forms; organic and non-organic. The most frequent items used in organic mulching are grass, straw and bark. While the most frequently
used items in non- organic mulching are stones, small chips of brick and even plastic. Taking the mulching task into your own hands can save you
huge costs compared to having it done professionally. The materials that are required for organic mulching can be created without any cost to you
so all you are really paying for is the labour to spread the mulch.

Why mulch?
Agriculture with mulch in the tropics promotes plant health and vigour. Mulching improves nutrient and water retention in the soil, encourages
favourable soil microbial activity and worms, and suppresses weed growth. When properly executed, mulching can significantly improve the well-
being of plants and reduce maintenance as compared to bare soil culture. Mulched plants have better vigour and, consequently, have improved
resistance to pests and diseases.

What materials to use for mulching?

Organic residue: grass clippings, leaves, hay, straw, comfrey, shredded bark, whole bark nuggets, sawdust, shells, woodchips, shredded
newspaper, cardboard, wool, but also manure (cow), etc.
 Mulch Materials

Material Amount to apply Notes

• Smaller chips are easier to spread, especially around small plants. Excellent for use
around trees, shrubs, and perennial gardens. When spreading mulch around trees, keep
Bark mulch 2-4 inches
the mulch an inch or two away from the trunk. A couple inches of mulch is adequate.
• There is no need to apply the mulch 6 or 8 inches high, as often is seen.

• Similar to bark mulch. If using fresh wood chips that are mixed with a lot of leaves,
Wood chips 2-4 inches
composting may be beneficial.

Leaves 3-4 inches • Best to chop and compost before spreading. If using dry leaves, apply about 6 inches.

• Thicker layers tend to compact and rot, becoming quite slimy and smelly. Add additional
Grass clippings 2-3 inches
layers as clippings decompose. Do not use clippings from lawns treated with herbicides.

•Apply sheets of newspaper and cover lightly with grass clippings or other mulch material to
Newspaper 1/4 inch anchor. If other mulch materials are not available, cover edges of paper with soil. Applying
on a windy day can be a problem.

Compost 3-4 inches • Excellent material for enriching soil.

Straw Mulching
An organic mulch is made up of natural substance such as bark, wood chips, pine needles, dry grasses, paddy straw, dry
leaves,saw dust, grass clipping, etc. But organic mulch attracts insects, slugs and the cutworms that eat them. They get
decomposed easily and need frequent replacements.

Paddy and wheat straw are the commonest mulching materials used for fruit and vegetable production. Though straw is poor
in nutrient value but after decomposition, it makes soil more fertile. Among organic mulching materials, straw has a long life
in comparison to other mulches (grasses, leaves and leaf mould).

Straw Adds Nitrogen

Soil that lacks nitrogen can cause problems for many plants and trees. Lucerne hay that comes from mown alfalfa breaks
down easily and adds nitrogen to the soil as it does so, helping to nourish your plants. Some wood chip mulches can actually
pull nitrogen from the soil and should be used with care.

Straw Prevents Weeds

A layer of straw mulch inhibits weed growth. The best mulch to fit this purpose is Lucerne hay from alfalfa or meadow hay
that has been composted to kill weed seeds.
Straw is Convenient
Straw mulching is a great alternative to regular soil tilling with a rotary tiller. Tillers can be heavy, difficult to control, and
time consuming to use.

Once you apply this organic mulch, you're probably done for the growing season. In most cases, you won't have to reapply
straw mulch unless winds scattered much of it soon after it was spread. Straw mulch is extremely easy to work with. You
can mold it and pull it apart to make rows and holes for planting. It is also very comfortable to kneel or sit on as you work,
unlike jagged wood chip mulch.

To start, put on your gardening gloves and conceptualize where you want your straw. Pull three-inch-thick sections off of
the bale, fluff, and apply 2-3 inches deep. Keeping the straw layer fluffy allows air and rain to penetrate. You can mulch any
time of year, but the straw will be most useful in the summer for moisture retention and heat protection. This is a fun and
easy project for gardeners at any level of expertise
Straw has few Potential Problems
As organic mulch, the biggest problem straw is likely to cause is sprouting. Depending on when you purchase or acquire
your mulch, there could be weed seeds mixed in with the straw. Straw made from meadow hay will often contain these
seeds which can cause a weed problem, one of the problems you're trying to prevent with the mulch in the first place. Opt
for cereal straw or Lucerne hay (which comes from alfalfa) to avoid this problem, or choose meadow hay that has been
composted first. Straw from cereal crops may contain some grain seeds that sprout once the mulch is spread.
 Weed mulching in maize conserves moisture and mitigates the drought
Mulch is a material placed on the soil surface to maintain moisture, reduce weed growth, mitigate soil erosion and improve
soil conditions.Mulching is one of the simplest and beneficial practices for soil and moisture conservation. Mulch is simply
protective layer of material that is spread on top of the soil to prevent it from blowing and being washed away. Mulch can
either be organic such as grass clippings, straw, bark chips and similar materials or inorganic such as stones brick chips and
plastic. Conservation tillage is a common practice that creates mulch on the soil surface. It leaves the crop residue on the top
of the soil as mulch.

Benefits :
• Mulching improves the soil structure and increases the infiltration-capacity of the soil.
• Protects soil from erosion.
• Conserve moisture in soil thus saving the need for frequent irrigation.
• Reduce compaction of soil due to impact of heavy rains.
• Maintains a more even soil temperature.
• Prevents weed growth to check loss of soil nutrients.
• Crop residues act as a mulch and reduces soil evaporation.
• Sorghum stalk spread over 40 cm depth with 15 cm wide in the beds increased 20-30% crop yield .
• Coir waste can hold water five times as of its own weight.
• It enriches soil by adding organic matter and reduces weed infestation.