Organic Mulching- A Water Saving Technique to Increase the Production of Fruits and Vegetables

Prem Ranjan¹, G. T. Patle² , Manjeet Prem ³, K R Solanke⁴

^1,2 Department of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering and Post-Harvest Technology, (CAU), Ranipool, Sikkim, India.

³Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Anand Agricultural University, Godhara, Gujarat.

⁴Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering and Post-Harvest Technology, Central Agricultural University, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.5.3.17

Abstract:

In the present situation of globalization and health awareness demand of the virtuous horticultural crops has increased worldwide. The increasing demand for the fruits and vegetables and market competition has forced the farmers to produce more and high-quality fruits and vegetables for sustaining in the international market. Use of organic mulching is one of the suitable methods which could help the horticultural growers to increase the production with good quality of produce. Looking to the water scarcity and the challenges that arise due to climate change, adoption of organic mulching at large scale by the Indian farmers would help the farmers to overcome several problems considering the advantages of organic mulching. From the findings of the several studies shown that mulching with organic materials increases the soil nutrients, maintains the optimum soil temperature, restricts the rate of evaporation from the soil surface, restricts the weed growth and prevents the soil erosion. It also helps to improve the soil health. Organic mulches are cheap materials; therefore, the cost of mulching is also economical. In this paper, an attempt has been made to overview on the various types of mulching, mulching techniques, benefits and limitations of mulching.

Keywords:

Evapotranspiration; Erosion; Mulching; Moisture Conservation; Organic Mulching

Download this article as: 

[ HTML Full Text]