Mulching: A New Concept for Climate Smart Agriculture

Abstract

Climate change is a state of change in climatic condition driven by human activity directly or indirectly causing alteration of global temperature which becomes a drastic challenge to sustainable food security leads to a major loss to agricultural produce. This alteration of global temperature produce long term change in weather distribution patterns (CO<inf>2</inf> availability, global temperature, intensity and rate of harsh weather events, up surging sea level and weather variability etc.). In order to reduce these damages, a new approach of Climate smart agriculture must be promoted for achieving sustainable agricultural productivity and incomes and also to mitigate the adverse effect of climate change and reduce greenhouse gases emissions. The need for providing large access of quality food and environment to individuals has encouraged the use of organic or inorganic materials as mulch that can maintain the physical and chemical condition of soil. Mulching is a covering material of soil surface with organic or inorganic material for improving soil structure, conserving soil moisture condition, soil temperature and reducing nutrient loss, salinity and erosion problems. Therefore, the present chapter gives a clear overview about the importance of mulching as organic fertilizer, soil regulator, water, nutrient and residue manager, improver in crop yield and productivity. The potential role of mulching in different climatic zones of Pakistan and also the role of mulch in minimizing different environmental stresses is also highlighted in this chapter. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022.