Mulching is a Mechanism to Reduce Environmental Stresses in Plants

Abstract

Mulching is considered as one of the most important elements of sustain-able agriculture that promote growth and productivity of crop plants, reduce weed growth, maintain the optimal soil temperature and retain soil moisture and increase the aesthetic value of land and mitigate the adverse effect of biotic and abiotic stresses. Mulches (earlier agricultural bioproducts were used as mulch) gained popularity in the early-nineteenth century as a consequence of their ability to optimize the conditions for agricultural lands. The sources of organic mulches include plants and animals residues. Organic mulches that are widely used around the globe involves straws, husks, sawdust, grasses, manures and composts. Mulch made of polythene plastic is the most widely used inorganic mulch around the globe. It has been observed that mulch has a positive effect of environmental conditions such as light, heat, soil as well as crop growth, yield and quality. Mulch also helps to mitigate environmental stresses making favorable environment to the plant. This chapter emphasized on the importance of mulches in overcoming environmental stress in plants and gathers detailed information about the positive effect of mulch not only on plants but also on soils as well. Furthermore, information has also been given on the mitigation of different environmental stresses which harm crop growth.