Selecting & Laying the Right Mulch Film
Mulching is the method of covering soil around the plants with organic or inorganic material to create favourable condition for the growth of crops. Mulch helps in many ways It helps in retaining moisture in the soil, suppress weeds growth and keeps the soil cool.
Mulch have many benefits but selecting the right mulch and laying it properly is important to yield all its benefits.
SELECTION OF MULCH FILMS
Selecting the right mulch is very important as wrong type can harm the crop yield. There are variety if mulch films available as per the crop requirements. Selection of mulch film depends upon the purpose of using the mulch such as: weed control, soil temperature management, insect control or crop growth etc. The selection of mulch film overall depends on the ecological situation of the farm.
The colour, light transmission and reflection ability of the mulch film affects soil temperature and weed growth. Mulch films are available in variety colours. In general people prefer black much film. Black mulch has been the major mulch used in agriculture. Black mulch film allows little light to pass through, which is later converted into heat. The heat is finally transferred to the soil.
At broader level use of various mulch films can be describe as below:
Thick mulch film is used for orchard and plantation purpose: the thickness of the mulch film possibly should be in accordance with the type and age of the crops.
Black mulch filmis use for sandy soil
White film is use for summer crops
Ttransparent mulch filmis used weed control purpose
Silver colour mulch filmis use as Inspect repllant
Thin mulch filmis use for early germination purpose
LAYING OF MULCH FILMS is also an important task as the inappropriate fitting can affect the impact of mulch film. Usually mulch is laid before crop plantation. The process of mulch installation includes preparation of seed bed, spreading the mulch film and fixing the edges of the mulch film. if any of the aspect is done uneven or wrongly, it can spoil the optimum performance of mulch film.