Description of practice
Straw mulching is the practice of spreading a layer of straw on the soil surface. The straw can be the residue from a harvested crop or sourced from elsewhere. The practice aims to conserve moisture, improve fertility and health of the soil and reduce weed growth.
| Examples of how to use straw mulching | Further information (see Note below) |
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Grass mulchGrass mulch is applied to the soil surface to reduce moisture stress, increase soil water retention, reduce soil erosion and improve soil organic matter content with the aim of increasing crop productivity. |
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Straw mulchStraw mulch is applied to the soil surface. It is effective weed control and soil erosion prevention, conserves moisture and increases soil organic matter content. |
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Spreading straw residuesRice straw is left on the field after mechanized harvesting. Successive crops benefit from increased moisture and nutrient levels in the soil. |
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Note: Most of the Further information links are to a full description of the example in the WOCAT database. However sometimes the link may be to similar practices or a research paper. Occasionally the link is to a commercial product in which case it should be understood that this does not imply any endorsement of the product by iSQAPER.