Living mulch
A living mulch is a cover crop inter-planted or under-sown with a main crop, and intended to serve the functions of a mulch, such as weed suppression and regulation of soil temperature.
Benefits of living Mulch
- Slowing the growth of weeds, and protecting soil from water and wind erosion.
- Increase populations of the natural enemies of crop pests.
- Legumes used as living mulches also provide nitrogen fixation, reducing the need for fertilizer.
- Living mulches intercept raindrops and reduce runoff. The protection that such vegetation provides against wind is influenced mainly by the amount of biomass that covers the ground (differs with each spp), plant geometry and row orientation.