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Mulching Practices for Sustainable Agriculture: Enhancing Yield, Soil Moisture, and Environmental Benefits in Field and Fruit Crops
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A review of mulching practices in sustainable agriculture finds that organic mulches improve soil fertility, moisture retention, and weed suppression while emerging biodegradable alternatives show promise in reducing plastic mulch pollution. Reducing reliance on conventional plastic film mulch is a meaningful lever for cutting agricultural microplastic contamination of soils and water systems.
Mulching has become a foundation of sustainable agriculture that is characterized by a variety of benefits in a variety of cropping systems. This review is a synthesis of recent evidence of the agronomic, ecological and economic effects of mulching with particular focus on the mulching in increasing yield, preserving soil moisture, and increasing the environmental resilience in both field and fruit crops. Mulching is the protective cover of soil, which checks temperature, pressure of weeds, and water loss, thus favoring plant growth. Organic mulches, e.g. straw, compost and crop residues are beneficial to long term soil fertility due to their gradual breakdown and release of nutrients and synthetic and biodegradable mulches have immediate effects of water retention and weed suppression. Mulches are also used in controlling erosion, as well as enhancing soil structure, which is very essential in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the soil. The invention of mulching materials, especially biodegradable and hybrid ones, is a potential way to lower the rate of plastic pollution and improve the environmental sustainability. Moreover, effective implementation of the mulching practice depends on the need to suit the strategy to special crops, soils, and climatic conditions, good policy backing and effective extension services. This review highlights the serious challenge toward the need to conduct interdisciplinary research and implementmulching systems centered on farmers to have a resilient and sustainable future of agriculture.
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A review of applications, effects, and potential of mulching technology in agriculture
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This review comprehensively examines mulching practices in agriculture — covering organic, synthetic, and living materials — and their effects on soil moisture, temperature, weed suppression, and crop yield. The authors highlight emerging biodegradable mulch alternatives as more sustainable options amid growing concerns about microplastic contamination from plastic mulch films.
Mulching Influence on Agricultural Productivity and Climate Change Mitigation: A Review
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This review pulls together existing research on "mulching", covering soil with materials like straw or plastic film to help crops grow better and use less water, especially in dry regions. While plastic mulches work well short-term, they contribute to plastic pollution that can break down into microplastics in soil, which is a growing concern for food safety and human health; organic and newer biodegradable alternatives may offer similar farming benefits with less environmental risk. The bigger takeaway: smarter farming practices like this can help grow more food with less water while also fighting climate change, but choosing eco-friendly materials matters for protecting both the environment and the food we eat.
Mulching Technology for Moisture Conservation: Strategies and Applications for Rainfed Area
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Researchers reviewed mulching technologies for soil moisture conservation in rainfed agricultural regions, examining how various mulch materials and application strategies can mitigate water stress under climate change conditions, with attention to both conventional plastic mulches and biodegradable alternatives.
Application and Impacts of Mulch Installation Techniques on Indian Horticulture: An In-depth Review
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This review examines mulching techniques used in Indian horticulture, covering organic, inorganic, and biodegradable mulch materials along with both traditional and modern application methods. The study highlights the benefits of mulching for soil moisture retention and crop yield while noting environmental concerns, particularly related to plastic film mulches that can break down into microplastic fragments contaminating agricultural soils.
Materials used for soil mulching: A comprehensive review of performance, soil impact, and sustainability
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This review of existing farming research compares different materials used to cover soil ("mulch"), like plastic film, straw, and biodegradable covers, to see which best help crops grow while protecting soil health. The key takeaway: plastic mulch works great short-term but breaks down into microplastics that build up in soil over time, while organic materials like straw are better for long-term soil health, though no single option is perfect for every situation. This matters because the food we eat grows in this soil, so choices about farming materials can affect microplastic contamination in our food supply and the long-term sustainability of the land that produces it.
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