Mulching: Nature's Way to Protect and Nourish Your Soil
In nature, soil is never bare. Forests cover their floor with leaves, grasslands blanket the earth with thatch, and even deserts have scattered plant debris protecting the surface. Mulching in natural farming follows this same principle—keeping soil covered to protect, nourish, and build fertility.
What is Mulching?
Mulching is the practice of covering the soil surface with organic materials. This simple technique provides multiple benefits:
- Prevents water evaporation
- Regulates soil temperature
- Suppresses weed growth
- Adds organic matter as it decomposes
- Protects soil from erosion
- Creates habitat for beneficial organisms
Three Types of Mulching in Natural Farming
1. Soil Mulch
Created by loosening the top layer of soil without deep disturbance. This breaks the capillary tubes that draw moisture to the surface, reducing evaporation.
How to create: Use blade harrow or shallow cultivation between crop rows. Avoid deep ploughing that destroys soil structure.
2. Straw Mulch
Covering soil with dried organic materials such as:
- Crop residues (straw, stubble)
- Dried leaves
- Grass clippings
- Weeds (before seeding)
Application: Apply 2-3 inches thick (approximately 2-3 tons per acre). This layer protects topsoil, conserves moisture, and gradually decomposes into humus.
Note: Avoid using rice husk as mulch—farmers report problems with this material.
3. Live Mulch
Growing cover crops that shade the soil while providing additional benefits:
- Legumes fix nitrogen (pulses, cowpea, green gram)
- Grasses provide biomass and weed suppression
- Mixed plantings combine benefits
Key principle: Grow both monocots and dicots together:
- Dicots (pulses, legumes): Fix nitrogen from air
- Monocots (rice, wheat, grasses): Supply potash, phosphate, sulphur
Benefits of Mulching
Moisture Conservation
Mulch dramatically reduces water loss from evaporation. Studies show natural farms with good mulch cover need 50-60% less water than conventional farms. The mulch also harvests atmospheric moisture during night and early morning.
Temperature Regulation
Mulch acts as insulation, keeping soil cooler during hot days and warmer during cold nights. This moderate temperature benefits soil organisms and plant roots.
Weed Suppression
A thick mulch layer blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds, preventing germination. Those weeds that do emerge are easier to pull from the moist, loose soil beneath.
Soil Structure Protection
Rain drops can compact bare soil, sealing the surface and reducing infiltration. Mulch absorbs the impact, protecting soil structure and allowing water to soak in.
Building Organic Matter
As mulch decomposes, it becomes humus—the dark, rich organic matter that gives healthy soil its fertility. This is a slow but steady process of soil building.
Earthworm Activity
Earthworms thrive under mulch, where conditions are moist and there's abundant organic material to consume. Their activity further improves soil structure.
Sourcing Mulch Materials
Look locally for biomass:
- Crop residues after harvest
- Prunings from trees and hedges
- Grass from bunds and borders
- Leaves from nearby trees
- Green manure crops grown specifically for mulch
Pre-Monsoon Dry Sowing (PMDS)
A specialized technique that combines seeding with mulching:
- Pelletize diverse crop seeds with clay and bio-stimulant
- Sow with minimal moisture from early rain
- Cover immediately with thick organic mulch
- Seeds germinate and establish under protection
- Apply foliar Jeevamrit to support growth
This technique establishes crop cover with fewer resources while building soil organic carbon.
Practical Tips
When to mulch: Apply mulch after planting and throughout the growing season.
Thickness: 2-3 inches is optimal—too thin allows weeds through, too thick may harbor pests.
Keep away from stems: Leave a small gap around plant stems to prevent stem rot.
Replenish regularly: As mulch decomposes, add more material.
Diversity matters: Mix different organic materials for better nutrient balance.
The goal is simple: never let your soil see the sun directly. When soil stays covered, it stays alive—and living soil is the foundation of natural farming success.
