Role of Mulching in Vegetable Crop Production

The need for modernization and improvement of cultivation technologies is always present and mulching is one such technique which improves the ecological environment of the soil, growth and yield of vegetable crops. Mulching is widely utilized in modern day horticulture throughout the world. When compared to other mulches plastic mulches are completely impermeable to water, preventing direct evaporation of moisture from the soil, limiting the water losses and, soil erosion over the surface, and preventing the rise of water containing salt, which is important in countries with high salt content water resources. A wide range of plastic films based on different typesof polymers have all been evaluated for mulching at various periods in the 1960s. Low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have all been used and although there were some technical performance differences between them, they were of minor nature. Today the vast majorities of plastic mulches are based on linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) because it is more economic in use. Mulching with organic materials has also been advocated. The most commonly used vegetables mulch is black plastic mulch because it retards weedgrowth and warm soil. Clear plastic mulch is used in cold areas due to its increased capability for raising soil temperature. Infrared transmitting mulchcan be used to achieve earliness in crops. White (or) Aluminium reflective mulch is used to repel vectors which spread viral diseases. Synthetic mulches have become synonymous with modern life but are difficult to dispose off and have become a significant source of environmental pollution. Biodegradable and photodegradable mulches are now a possibility as they are easily decomposed by micro organisms and persistent for much shorter time in nature.