Sheet mulches

Hie no-dig approach If your soil is in good condition, you can begin using the no-dig technique right away below left). If there are perennial weeds, a sheet mulch can be used to suppress them, again without any digging within two years it should be possible to sow seed of crops such as chard below right). 

Small seeds and root crops are unsuitable for sheet mulches in the first year, but in the following season the surface of the ground should be crumbly and very suitable for sowing. It is useful to continue to keep the soil mulched to prevent the germination of weed seeds, protect the soil from crusting after heavy rain, and conserve moisture. 

Once a sheet mulch has cleared the ground, the area can be maintained using no-dig techniques. 

Always mulch when soil is warm and after heavy rain. Mulching cold soil delays soil warming, slowing plant growth and increasing the risk of slug damage. Make up the sheet mulch with two or three layers. 

Vegetable growers have long used plastic sheeting (mulch) in the rows between plants to retain moisture, retard weeds, and provide warmth for the roots of young plants. It is now becoming apparent that the color of the plastic used has a significant effect on the plants. How can this be Why does the color of their mulch matter to plants ... 

Li SX, Wang ZH, Li SQ, Gao YJ, Tian XH. Effect of plastic sheet mulch, wheat straw mulch, and maize growth on water loss by evaporation in dryland areas of China. Agric Water Manag 2013 116 (1) 39 9. 

Numerical and experimental studies. Soil Sci 131 82-87 Mahrer Y, Naot O, Rawaitz E, Katan J (1984) Temperature and moisture regimes in soils mulched with transparent polethylene. Soil Sci Soc Am J 48 362-367 Malathrakis NE, Loulakis MD (1989) Effectiveness of the type of polyethylene sheet on soil solarization. Acta Hort (ISHS) 255 235-242... 

A mulch membrane, weed barrier, or weed control fabric is simply a sheet of synthetic or biodegradable material that forms a physical and light-excluding barrier to weed growth. Membranes can be used to clear annual and perennial weeds from open ground and beds. They are also used to prevent weeds from growing on ground that has been cleared. 

Ecoflex is also found in agricultural films such as cover sheeting and mulch film. The film can be ploughed into the field and is degraded in the soil after use. 

Cover the area with a thick straw mulch or pol3dhene sheet to prevent evaporation loss. 

Most of the artificial mulching materials, such as black paper or plastics, and aluminum foil, are satisfactory for weed control provided the soil is completely covered. If applied as perforated sheets, or in strips, some annual weeds will usually grow through the holes or cracks. 

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