Covering of soil with plastic film to conserve moisture, prevent weed growth and modify soil temperature is called mulching.

Benefits of Mulching

• Increase in yield and plant productivity upto 25%.
• Improves product quality.
• Prevents weed growth.
• Saves on fertilisers and pesticide costs when used in conjunction with drip irrigation.
• Leads to better root development and a cleaner crop.
• Maintains soil moisture leading to reduced need for irrigation by upto 25%.
• Improved seed germination
• Mulching maintains soil structure and enhances carbondioxide level leading to improved photosynthesis.
• Mulching provides barrier to soil pathogens and keeps fruit off the soil.
  

Transparent film is very effective for soil solarisation to kill nematodes and weeds. Black film has proved to be effective in plains to keep the crop cool during summer and the clear transparent film in hilly areas for raising the soil temperature in winter. However, the clear transparent film can not control weed growth.