Why you should be using agricultural mulch film?
Any and every
farmer is, by necessity, worried about keeping the land they own as healthy as
possible, using only the best science and finest techniques that have been
passed down to them. It is in your interests to keep your farm as productive
and efficient as possible, giving the best possible yield with the least amount
of money spent on it. One fantastic new method that is starting to gain much
attention from scientists and farmers alike is biodegradable mulch film, also
known as DegriFilm – but what on earth is it?
Let me start
from the beginning. First and foremost why on earth would a farmer lay plastic
to grow crops? Put simply, mulch film is laid on top of soil to grow vegetables
and fruits in mass. This process can save water, create better yields, and even
make the produce more attractive to buyers. I've highlighted below seven
significant benefits of using mulch film:
- Earlier Planting
Mulch film means
that you will be able to alter the temperature of your soil – either higher,
with dark films, or lower with clear or white films. This is perfect to speed
up growth at the beginning of the season.
- Moisture Retention
Once laid, mulch
film prevents water from evaporating quickly in the sunlight, keeping all of
that wonderful moisture right where you want it – in the soil, for your crops.
- Weed Management
Exactly how the
weeds are managed depends on the color of the film that you decide to lay. All
colors will prevent rain water from reaching the weed roots, but clear film
will allow sunlight to them, potentially allowing partial growth. However, it
will be a greatly reduced growth rate.
- Reduction of Leaching
One of the most
frustrating things about fertiliser is the short amount of time that it is
possible to keep it in the soil to work sufficiently. When you use mulch film,
the plastic restricts the amount of movement of the fertilizer, preventing it
from leaching.
- Improved Quality
A great problem
with growing fruit is the rot that can quickly set in if the fruit is resting
on the soil. However, if you have been smart and invested in mulch film there
will be a layer between the soil and fruit, keeping the quality of the fruit or
vegetable stronger for a longer period of time.
- Reduction of Compaction
Naturally, the
sun and rain will eventually create a crust on the top of the soil, making it
less productive to grow in. On the other hand, mulch film will prevent this
from happening, keeping the soil loose and full of air, perfect for growth.
- Reduction of Root Damage
Lastly, because
of all the above benefits, manual cultivation of the soil will be reduced, and
that will in turn reduce the potential damage that could be caused to the roots
of your crops.
It’s only fair
that I talk about the disadvantage of mulch film. The elephant in the room; obviously,
plastic pollutes! At EcoPoly Solutions we recognized this problem and came up
with a solution… DegriFilm! DegriFilm is a biodegradable mulch film. The amazing
product is developed from beginning to end under our roof. Our lab is second to
none globally and our manufacturing is in house. We have completely closed the
loop on inconsistency in this market. DegriFilm helps farmers save money on
disposing of mulch film while encouraging them to be more sustainable. DegriFilm
is farming for the future.
