Mulching: A diversified and multipurpose input in agriculture

Abstract

The ever-growing demand for food has led to the depletion of natural resources. Water scarcity, land degradation, and climate change are the main factors contributing to declining crop productivity. To address this issue, there is a need to adopt suitable agronomic strategies. Mulching is one way this practice addresses this issue. Since time immemorial, people have been using organic residues as mulching material. Nowadays, people find it cumbersome to utilise crop residues. The development of plastic mulching material overcame this issue due to its easy and plentiful availability. Plastic mulch has its own advantages and disadvantages. In today’s world, the haphazard use of this material has led to the threat of micro plastics. Micro plastics are small in size and escape waste management practices. They contaminate ecosystems, clog the soil pores, enter the food chain, and take a very long time to degrade. So, balanced use of both organic and inorganic materials is the need of the day. This article reviews the benefits of mulching as an agronomic strategy to boost present-day agriculture.