Hello Sir
Its true that mulch prevent weed growth. But the bilayer technique seems to be wrong as it will naturally raise pests and disease problems and rottening of roots.
As every plant requires a process of photosynthesis for generation of food, which requires sunlight, on using of plastic mulch film the weed plant which will be below the plastic mulch sheet, the sheet does not allow the sunrays to pass through it, as our film has a unique quality of reflecting back the sunlight, which will not allow the weed to grow.
The type of mulch selected can exert a distinct effect on weed control. Black plastic mulch prevents light from reaching the soil surface, which in turn prevents most weeds from growing.
Mulching techniques for Vegetables /close space crop
• Very thin film is used for short duration crops like vegetables.
• Required length of film for one row of crop is taken and folded in ‘thaan’ form at every one metre along the length of the film.
• Round holes are made at the center of the film using a punch or a bigger diameter pipe and a hammer or a heated pipe end could be used.
• One end of the mulch film (along width) is anchored in the soil and the film is unrolled along the length of the row of planting.
• Till the soil well and apply the required quantity of FYM and fertilizer before mulching.
• Mulch film is then inserted (4-6”) into the soil on all sides to keep it intact
• Seeds are sown directly through the holes made on the mulch film.
• In case of transplanted crops, the seedlings could be planted directly into the hole.
• For mulching established seedlings, the process of punching the hole is the same. One end of the film along the width is burried in the soil and the mulch film is then unrolled over the saplings. During the process of unrolling, the saplings are
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held in the hand and inserted into the holes on the mulch film from the bottom side, so that it could spread on the topside.
Precautions for Mulch Laying
• Do not stretch the film very tightly. It should be loose enough to overcome the expansion and shrinkage conditions caused by temperature and the impacts of cultural operation.
• The slackness for black film should be more as the expansion, shrinkage phenomenon is maximum in this color.
• The film should not be laid on the hottest time of the day, when the film will be in expanded condition.
