Mulching technology

Mulching technology for crop production was introduced by DIHAR in Ladakh, whereby a UV stabilized black mulch film of recommended thickness is laid on the field and crop production is done on it. With this simple technology, there is reduction in requirement of manual labour for weeding, irrigation interval has also increased, and thereby less of irrigation is required in a crop cycle as compared to the traditional method where cultivation is practiced on open naked soil. As a spinoff benefits, mulching also increases the yield of crops. For instance there is doubling of yield in case of tomato crop as compared to non-mulch practice. With the successful demonstration of this technology by DIHAR at farmers’ field, now the mulch films are being distributed by the State agriculture department among the local farmers at a subsidized rate to enhance vegetable production.