IS 15177: Surface Covered Cultivation - Plastics Mulching - Code of Practice

8 Pages·2002·1.1 MB·English

by  Bureau of Indian Standards

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IS 15177 (2002): Surface Covered Cultivation - Plastics
Mulching - Code of Practice [FAD 22: Agricultural Systems
and Management]
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Is 15177:2002
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Indian Standard
SURFACE COVERED CULTIVATION — PLASTICS
MULCHING — CODE OF PRACTICE
ICS 65.040.30

0 BIS 2002
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEWDELHI 110002

.4Uglist 2002 Price Group 1
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Agricultural Produce Processing and Milling Machinery and Surface Covered Cultivation Structures Sectional
Committee, FAD 61
FOREWORD
This Indian Standard was adopted bythe Bureau of Indian Standards, afler the draft finalized by the Agricultural
Produce Processing and Milling Machinery and Surface Covered Cultivation Structures Sectional Committee
had been approved by the Food and Agriculture Division Council.
The practice of mulching in agriculture is very old. Crop residue, paper, soil, pebbles and synthetic materials
have been used as mulches under diverse agro-climatic conditions. The main objectives of using the practice
of mulching”have been water conservation, weed control and soil temperature modification. However, pest
control and carbon di-oxide ( C02 ) enrichment have also been observed as benefits of mulching. With the
advent of plastics films, it has been possible to achieve the whole range of benefits provided the right kind of
material is used correctly. Plastics mulching have become very relevant for sustainable environment-friendly
agriculture because it reduces the requirements of fertiliser and agro-chemicals by better utilisation efficiency.
The plastics mulching also reduces soil erosion. A need has been felt to include relevant information in fiis
standard to guide prospective users to select appropriate plastics mulch films for the intended applications and
use it correctly.
In preparation of this standard, considerable assistance have been derived fi-omIndian Agriculture Research
Institute, Pusa, New Delhi.
For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this standard is complied with the final value,
observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in accordance with
IS2:1960 ‘Rules for rounding off numerical values (revised )’. The number ofsignificant places retained inthe
rounded off value should be the same that of the specified value in this standard.
IS 15177:2002
Indian Standard
SURFACE COVERED CULTIVATION — PLASTICS
MULCHING — CODE OF PRACTICE
1 SCOPE natural environmental conditions and getmixed with
the soil after the mulching period. These plastics
This standard covers recommendations for the
materials may be cellulose based.
selection of plastics mulch film and the methods of
application. 2.1.5.3 Nutritional mulches
2 TERMINOLOGY These plastics mulches which are designed to release
plant nutrients slowly into the plant root zone while
For the purpose of this Indian Standard, following
acting asanormal plastics mulch.
definitions shall apply. i
2.1 Mulching 2.L5.4 Reflective mulching
Mulching isthe practice of covering the soil around Aplastics mulching material, which actsasreflective
aplant or arow crop plants with a suitable material surfacefacingthesky.Thesemulcheshavebeen found
to modifi the soil environment favorably and to tokeepthesoilcoolerthantheairandthereby enhance
reduce evaporation losses and weed population. photosynthesis.
2.1.1 Gravel Mulch 2.1.6 Soil Mulch or Dust Mulch
Gravelmulchesof5to 10mmthicknessnotonlyreduce Ifthe surface ofthe soil isloosened, itacts asmulch
evaporation from soil surface but also improve for reducing evaporation. This loose surface soil is
infiltration of water into soil. Depending upon the calledsoilmulchordustmulch. Intercultivationcreates
colour ofthe gravel, the soil iswarmed or cooled. soil mulch inagrowing crop.
2.1.2 Latex, Asphalt, Oil Mulches 2.1.7 Stubble Mulch
These mulches have been found suitable in specific Crop residues like wheat straw, cotton stalk, etc, are
desert situations. This type of mulch also stores the left on the soil surface as stubble mulch. The
daytime heat and thus keeps soil warm during cold advantages of stubble mulch are protection of soil
nights. from erosion and reduction of evaporation losses.
2.1.3 Live Mulching When wheat straw or paddy straw is used as the

mulching material, itiscalled straw mulch.
Itisaprocess of growing cover crops such asmoong

and urd toprovide the advantage ofmulching forthe 3 SELECTION OF PLASTICS MULCH FILMS
main crop.
3.1 Colour
2.1.4 Organic Mulches
Colour of plastic mulch maybe black, transparent,
The organic materials suchascrop by-products, farm white reflective, blue, red or any other. Selection of
yardmanure(FYM)andby-productsoftimber industry, colour depends upon the specific purpose for
whenusedformulching,areknownasorganicmulches. mulching. For most mulching applications, that is,
Organic mulches create no post-utilisation disposal moisture conservation and weed control, black film
problem but their availability cannot be assured. isused. If the objective isto conserve moisture and
control weeds without raising soil temperature then
2.1.5 Plastics Mulch
the colour of the mulch film should be either milky
Plastics materials like polyethylene and polyvinyl
whiteoraluminised reflective. For applications where
chloridefilmsareusedasmulchmaterials,Whilenatural
soil temperature needs to be enhanced, that is,either
mulches may notbe available atalltimes and places,
soilpolarizationorcropcultivation undercoldclimatic
plastics mulches can be made available in different
condition, the mulch film should be transparent.
colours and thickness to obtain the desired effects.
Mulch films of red, green, blue and yellow maybe
2.1.5.1 Photo-degradable plastics mulch used withadvantage for specific crops. However, the
experience is not adequate to make clear
Those plastics mulching materials, which get
recommendations.
disintegrated under sunlight over the designed
mulching period. 3.2 Width
2.1.5.2 Bio-degradable plastics mulches The film width should be such thatthe crop agronomic
Thoseplasticsmaterials whichgetdisintegrated under practices could beconveniently followed. The width
1
?,
Is 15177:2002
of 90 cm and 120 cm are more common. The aim, 6 FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS .
therefore, should be to make use of available width
Inthe full bed mulch system, all fertilizers and soil-
ofmulch film inthe most effective manner.
applied chemicals should be usually placed in, or on
3.3 Thickness thebed,beforethemulchisapplied.Followingmethods
maybeusedtoreplacethelostfertilizer inthemulched
Economics suggests that the film thickness should
field:
be the minimum possible commensurate with the
desired lifeandstrength. Considering onlyoneseason a) Holes are punched through the mulch into
use, the film for vegetable crops should last for 3to which dry fertilizer isplaced manually. This
6months and the film thickness should be not more methodislabourintensive,difficulttocalibrate
than 20microns. For annual crops suchassugarcane, and canresult into crop damage iftoo much
the thickness ofthe film may beupto30 micron. For fertilizer isplaced or ifitisplaced too close
orchards, the film thickness should be considerably to plants.
moretolastforseveralyears.Replacementoffilmafier
b) Liquid fertilizer isplaced through themulch
a period of, say, three years in orchards may be
withthemulch transplanting machines. This
contemplated and accordingly the film thickness
method requires several trips across a field
should bedecided. Recommended thickness ofmulch
in order to place enough solution into the
films for different crops are given inTable 1.
beds to satis~ crop needs, especially inthe
late season. If plants are large, this method
Table 1 Recommended Thickness of Mulched
canresultindamagetoplantshootsandroots.
Film for Different Crops
c) Theedgeofthemulch ismechanically raised
Category Name of Crops Mulch Film andfertilizer isapplied along theedge ofthe
Thickness, P
bed. This technique can result indamage to
(1) (2) (3) mulch and plant roots.
Seasonalcrops Peanuts, tomato, <=20 d) Fertilizer isspread inislesbetween the beds.
strawberry, cucurbits Thismethodresults inpoor efficiency inplant
capsicum, lettuce, beans,
utilizationoffertilizerandthefertilizerishighly
okra, broccoli, cabbage,
subjected to leaching and run-off.
cauliflowers
Annual crops Sugarcane,papay~bsmars~ 20-30 e) Fertilizer isapplied through drip irrigation
chrysanthemum, gerbera, system. This isthe best method of fertilizer
carnation, brinjal, cotton, application inmulched crops.
maize
t) Use of an injection wheel inmulched fields
Perennial crops Orchard crops, rose 50-100
toapply liquid fertilizer.

4 LAYING OF MULCH FILMS 7 IRRIGATION
Plastics films for mulching should belaidproperly in Thebestwayofirrigatingthemulchedcrops isthrough
the field, normally, before crop planting/emergence/ drip method. However, inthe event of not using the
transplanting. This includes preparation ofseedbed, drip method, other methods of irrigation could be
spreading ofmulch film, and anchoring ofthe edges employed. Irrigation through sprinklers is also
ofthefilm.Theseoperations, ifdonemanually,become possible. In case, it is not a continuous mulching,
very time consuming and costly. However, it is fhrrow irrigation canbepractised. Ifthe mulching is
possible to mechanise this activity. Tractor operated continuous, holesatregular intervals maybe punched
mulch laying machines have been developed and are inthemulchfilmsothat tlu-rowirrigation water could
in use in many countries. Availability of such a reach the root zone of the crop.
machines is expected to improve the economics of
plastics mulching significantly. 8 REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF USED
MULCH FILMS
5 SOWING/PLANTING/TRANSPLANTING
Plastics films donot disintegrate quickly inthe soil.
After laying the plastics mulches, the establishment Therefore, at the end of the season, the mulch film
ofcrop standrequires theuseofdevices/tools tomake should be removed and disposed off properly so as
holes in the film at desired intervals and placement toavoidanyplasticspollution problems. Thisrequires
ofseed/seedlings intheholes. Amongvarious options thedevelopment oftools andprocesses formulch film
available for accomplishing thisjob, hot dibbling is removal anddisposal. Ifpossible, mulch film maybe
the most appropriate method for making holes inthe partlyrecycled andused.Asoundstrategy willrequire
mulchfilm. the liaison with plastics processing industry.

2
7,
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of ‘BIS Catalogue’ and ‘Standards :Monthly Additions’.
This Indian Standard has been developed from Doc :No. FAD43( 1029).
Amendments Issued Since Publication
Amend No. Date of Issue Text Affected

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