Mulching as a Water-Saving Strategy and a Way to Increase Crop Productivity in Dryland Agriculture: A Review

Owing to global warming and intermittent rainfall in arid and semi-arid areas, agricultural water supplies have been exhausted over time. Mulching has a vital effect as a water-saving technique in rain-fed crop cultivation to mitigate water stress in agriculture. It is primarily important for maintaining soil moisture, controlling soil temperature, and limiting soil evaporation, all of which have an effect on crop yield. In dryland agriculture, the most restricting factor is soil moisture. It evaporates from the soil surface and is lost by transpiration from plant surfaces. Evaporation must be stopped because it is unrelated to plant productivity, while transpiration may be decreased to a degree without impacting plant productivity. Mulching, antitransparents, and wind breaks can all help to minimize evaporation losses. Mulching has become a significant and decisive part of agricultural production in recent years. It decreases the use of herbicides and other chemical fertilizers, manages weeds, and keeps soil moisture and temperature stable. Mulches and their potential for resolving the problem in dryland agriculture are the subject of this review literature. Mulching is an effective water-saving technique in rain-fed cropping to help mitigate water shortage in agriculture. It is essential for maintaining soil moisture, preventing soil evaporation, and regulating soil temperature, all of which affect food production.