Basic Definition of mulch in agriculture and gardening is the protective cover placed over the soil to retain moisture, reduce erosion, provide nutrients and suppress weed growth and seed germination. Traditionally for mulching organic residues like grass clipping, leaves, hay, straw etc are used or sometimes rock and gravel are also used. In a similar fashion to mulch Plastic film is used. Plastic mulch act as a barrier to the methyl bromide which is a strong fumigant and ozone deplete, keeps it in soil instead of emitting in atmosphere which is the case in field without mulch cover.
The idea of using polyethylene film as mulch in plant production saw its beginnings in the mid 1950’s. Dr. Emery M. Emmert of the University of Kentucky was one of the first to recognize the benefits of using LDPE (low density polyethylene) and HDPE (high density polyethylene) film as mulch in vegetable production. His work in this area was done at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Emmert also wrote on other topics such as the use of plastic for greenhouses instead of glass and plastic in field high tunnels. Today Dr. Emmert is considered the “father of plastic greenhouses”. He was jokingly also called the ”plastic surgeon” due to his use of plastic instead of glass for greenhouses and his use of clear and black plastic as mulch in vegetable production. Approximately, 2,500 square miles (6,500 km2) of agricultural land utilize polyethylene mulch and similar row covers for crop production in the world.
Mulch film is a protection cover over the soil, primarily to modify the effect of the local climate. The most powerful feature of plastic mulch is the impact it has on light. Light is responsible for creating both, heat and color. Plastic mulch can impact the development of heat increasing or decreasing it, depend on color. Different colours have different impact on reflection and conservation of heat. So a farmer must choose the right colour for the cultivation which will maximize the growth of his crops
Advantages of Mulch Film are as follows:-
The growth of weeds is limited in the field
Increases Soil retention and Soil moisture
It modifies the Soil temperature and makes it conducive for the growth of crops
Soil erosion by wind and rain is prevented
It also enhances the soil structure by preventing soil crusting and soil compaction
To make surface areas more attractive and easier to maintain
Benefits of Mulch film :
Off-Season Cultivation:- Planting dates can be shifted earlier with the use of plastic mulch, thus getting an upper hand in the market. The use of plastic mulch alters soil temperature by intercept sunlight warming the soil allowing earlier planting as well as encouraging faster growth early in the growing season. The reverse effect is also possible when White mulch reflects heat from the sun effectively reducing soil temperature. This reduction in temperature may help establish plants in mid-summer when cooler soil might be required. Thus different colours of mulch can be used to get different results.
Conserving the Soil Moisture:- In open field, there is huge loss of moisture by evaporation. Plastic mulches help to retain the moisture in the soil by providing a protective cover. This means less water will be needed for irrigation. Evenly distribution of moisture is also possible by plastic mulch which reduces the plants stress.
Weed Control:- This is one of the most crucial benefit of using Plastic mulching. They prevent sunlight from reaching the soil which can help most annual and perennial weeds to grow. Clear plastics do not prevent weed growth. Holes in the mulch for plants tend to be the only pathway for weeds to grow. Therefore weed management can be made easy with plastic mulches.
Reduction in the leaching of fertilizer:- The use of drip irrigation in conjunction with plastic mulch allows one to reduce leaching of fertilizers. Using drip irrigation eliminates the use of flood and furrow irrigation that applies large quantities of water to the soil which in turn tends to leach nitrogen and other nutrients to depths below the root zone. Drip irrigation applies lower amounts of water with fertilizers injected and thus these fertilizers are applied to the root zone as needed. This also reduces the amount of fertilizer needed for adequate plant growth when compared to broadcast fertilization.
Enhancing Quality of Crops:- Plastic mulches keep ripening fruits off of the soil. As the fruit doesn’t come in contact with the soil it doesn’t get rot and remains clean and attractive. This is beneficial for the production of strawberries, for example.
Maintaining the Soil Structure:- Plastic mulch maintains the soil structure by reducing the mechanical effects of weed management. Weed control between beds of plastic can be done using directly applied herbicides and through mechanical means the plastic mulch covering the soil decreases the crusting effect of rain and sunlight. The soil underneath the plastic mulch stays loose and well aerated. This increases the amount of oxygen in the soil and aids in microbial activity.
Reduction in root damage:- The use of plastic mulch creates a practically weed free area around the plant, removing the need for cultivation except between the rows of plastic. Root damage associated with cultivation is therefore eliminated. Due to these factors, the use of plastic mulch can lead to an improvement in the overall growth of the plant.
Aids Fumigation:- Mulches increases the effectiveness of chemicals applied as soil fumigants. Because of the impervious nature of the plastic mulch it acts as a barrier to gas escape and keeps gaseous fumigates in the soil nicely.
Mulch Film 
