Erosion TTool/Mulching and Mulch Maintenance
From Triple Performance
This involves bringing straw onto the plot (which incurs additional costs) or sowing cereals that will be rolled to serve as mulch for the main crop. This practice allows to cover the soil, which improves infiltration capacity, reduces the kinetic energy of rain and the detachment of solid particles (erosion) and also provides biodiversity benefits.
Description
Advantages
- Maintains soil moisture thanks to the "mulch" effect.
- Maintains soil structure and thus makes it less sensitive to rills.
- Adds organic matter.
- Limits soil temperature fluctuations (day/night).
- Controls the development of weeds.
Disadvantages
- Decomposition of crop residues is slowed down.
- Risk of nitrogen hunger depending on the C/N ratio of the mulch.
Adaptation advice
- Many materials can be used for mulching (plastic, wood, straw, fibers, etc.). To benefit over a longer period, it is recommended to use biodegradable materials (of plant origin).
- One option is to sow an autumn cereal that will be rolled in spring to serve as mulch for the main crop.
- Some suggestions are mentioned on the site promhaies.net[1]
- Strip-till is a technique applied in large crops using the mulch technique. It is therefore similar to mulching but aims rather to establish a crop directly on a dead vegetation cover without tilling the soil.
