Organic mulches

Soil free from surface plant debris and organic mulches will also dry out earlier in the spring so it can be worked and planted. This is important because cool-season crops must be planted early if they are to mature before summer heat halts their growth and reduces yield and quality. 

Mulches, both plastic and organic, can serve as a barrier against diseases that are spread partially by soil splashing onto plants. Early blight and buckeye rot of tomatoes are examples. Mulches will not eliminate these diseases, bnt may delay their onset and eventual severity. Organic mulch applied around tomatoes while the soil is still cool may delay ripening a few days, but black plastic mulch will warm the soil and speed ripening. 

Figure 5. Apply organic mulches 2 to 3 inches deep around established plants after the soil warms up.

Tilling only in-row areas (grow zones) and leaving the alleyways untilled and covered with sod or cover crops is an alternative hybrid system that can be used in more challenging circumstances such as compacted soils and cold short-season climates. Depending on the site-specific situation, in-row tilled areas can be either covered with pre-plant plastic mulch or post-plant organic mulch, or left uncovered as strip-till or ridge-till (raised-bed) systems (El Titi 2003). 

Blueberries require full sun and well-drained. moisture-retentive, acidic soil with a rH of 4.0-5.0. Of the 3 species, highbush blueberries are the most finicky about soil. Blueberries generally grow well in soil enriched with acidic organic material, such as peat moss, composted pine needles or oak leaves, or compost made from pine, oak, or hemlock bark. Fertilize with acidic fertilizers, such as cottonseed meal or soybean meal. Blueberries enjoy a thick, organic mulch. 

Plant currants in full sun or partial shade and apply a thick, organic mulch. To winter-prune red and white currants, cut all but 6 of the previous season s shoots to the ground. Remove all shoots more than 3 years old. To winter-prune black currants, cut 2-5 of the oldest branches to the ground and shorten tall, old branches to vigorous young sideshoots. Most currants are self-pollinating. 

Set out balled-and-burlapped plants in spring in well-drained, evenly moist soil. Full sun is best but they ll tolerate part shade. Beeches are very sensitive to root zone disturbances—cuts, fills, compaction—so keep them safe from such abuse. A thick layer of organic mulch will protect the shallow roots and help keep them cool and moist. 

In cool climates plant gooseberries in full sun. Choose partial shade in hot climates. Maintain a thick, organic mulch beneath plants to keep soil cool and moist. Prune mature plants every winter, cutting away all but 6 of the shoots that grew the previous season at ground level. Also remove all wood more than 3 years old. Gooseberries are self-pollinating. 

Privets will grow in full sun or partial shade and tolerate almost all soils except poorly drained ones. Set out in spring or fall. They benefit from a deep organic mulch. 

Prevent disease problems by keeping the leaves dry. Water carefully or use drip irrigation. Mulch melons to help conserve water Black plastic a good choice for central and northern arj as, but in extremely warm areas it can warm the soil too much. Organic mulches are good, too, but also provide shelter for pests like squash bugs. 

Set out in spring as balled-and-burlapped or container-grown plants. Moist but well-drained, acid soils with lots of organic matter suit them best. Apply an organic mulch to keep down weeds and maintain a cool, moist... 

Squash do best in well-drained, loose-textured soils with lots of organic matter. They will grow in soils with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8, but prefer a pH above 6.0. Squash need lots of water, but don t let soil become saturated. Prevent disease problems by keeping the leaves dry. Mulch squash to help conserve water. Black plastic is a good choice for northern areas, but in the extremely warm areas it can warm the soil too much. Organic mulches are good, too, but may provide shelter for pests like squash bugs. Foil mulches help prevent aphid problems. To prevent rot, support fruit on scraps of wood. 

To avoid blossom end rot, keep the soil evenly moist by watering regularly and putting down a thick layer of organic mulch. Cultivate carefully to avoid damaging roots. 

To control rose diseases, rake debris and old mulch away from the stems in the fall. Apply fresh compost or other organic mulch. 

Top layer considerations, including temperature and color, water retention (size, consist, and organics), mulching, and tacking... 

An organic mulch also protects the soil against crust formation, but aside from the scarcity of mulching materials and costs, the use of mulches presents other problems that are discussed in detail in Chapter 25. Many types of mulches, if properly managed (Army et al., 1961), are very effective in minimizing runoff. Plant residues on the surface also markedly decrease the rate of drying of soil in the surface half-inch layer, but under field conditions Army et al. observed that the soil moisture content below 2 inches was not materially increased by surface residues. 

COMPOSITION OF ORGANIC MULCHING AND WASTE MATERIALS (WATER-FREE BASIS) (from BOLLEN, 1953)... 

Singh, M., Sharma, S., Ramesh, S. 2002. Herbage, oil yield and oil quality of patchouli [Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth.] influenced by irrigation, organic mulch and nitrogen application in semi-arid tropical climate. Industrial Crops and Products 16 101-107. 

Mulching practice based on the use of recycled materials has also attracted interest as an alternative to the use of plastic films ". Therefore, organic mulches such as paper, leaves, straw are sometimes used by the farmers. Kraft paper coated by polymerised vegetable oils has been recently proposed as biodegradable mulch" ". ... 

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