Soil Mulching Techniques for Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Soil mulching encompasses the application of organic or inorganic materials to the soil surface to moderate microclimate, conserve moisture, suppress weeds and enhance soil fertility. Techniques range from plastic-film mulching, which elevates soil temperature and water retention, to organic mulches such as straw, crop residues or living groundcovers that contribute to soil organic matter and nutrient cycling. Mulching influences soil physicochemical properties, alters microbial community structure and activity, and can reduce soil erosion and surface runoff. Its global significance is evident in arid and semi-arid regions, where water conservation is critical, as well as in intensive horticultural systems, where improved crop yields and resource-use efficiency are required. Integration of mulching practices with precision irrigation, reduced tillage and fertiliser management further promotes sustainable intensification. Advances in understanding the interactions between mulch type, soil biology and greenhouse gas fluxes support tailored mulching strategies that enhance both productivity and environmental quality across diverse cropping systems.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have examined the impact of plastic-film mulching on soil microbial communities and greenhouse gas dynamics in field experiments. One investigation compared living mulching with fabric cloth mulching in orchards, revealing that living mulches fostered beneficial fungal taxa and higher bacterial abundance, while fabric cloth mulches enhanced nutrient-use efficiency despite hosting some pathogenic genera. Another work utilised high-throughput sequencing to demonstrate that film mulches in rain-fed maize systems raised soil temperature and moisture, thereby increasing bacterial and fungal richness. A third study explored the effects of mulching combined with controlled-release fertilisers on CO₂ emissions and maize yield, showing that black plastic-film mulching paired with slow-release urea suppressed cumulative soil respiration per unit yield while boosting grain production.

Soil Mulching Techniques for Sustainable Agricultural Practices publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in soil mulching techniques for sustainable agricultural practices across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Soil mulching: The practice of covering soil with organic or inorganic materials to conserve moisture, regulate temperature and suppress weeds.

Plastic-film mulching: Use of synthetic films, typically polyethylene, to create a barrier that elevates soil temperature and reduces evaporative losses.

Organic mulching: Application of natural materials such as straw, wood chips or crop residues that decompose and contribute to soil organic matter.

Microclimate: The localised set of climatic conditions at the soil surface, influenced by mulch type, moisture content and solar radiation.

Water use efficiency (WUE): The ratio of crop yield to water consumed, indicating how effectively water inputs are converted into biomass.

Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA): A microbial pathway that conserves nitrogen in soils by converting nitrate to ammonium rather than gaseous nitrogen forms.

References

1. Differential responses of the soil microbial community in two pitaya orchards with different mulch types. Scientific Reports (2019).
2. Influence of film mulching on soil microbial community in a rainfed region of northeastern China. Scientific Reports (2017).
3. Plastic-film mulching and urea types affect soil CO2 emissions and grain yield in spring maize on the Loess Plateau, China. Scientific Reports (2016).
4. Effect of soil mulching on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in China: A meta-analysis. PLOS ONE (2022).
5. Effects of straw and plastic film mulching on microbial functional genes involved in soil nitrogen cycling. Frontiers in Microbiology (2023).
6. Effects of mulching film on soil microbial diversity and community of cotton. AMB Express (2022).