A Review on Live Mulch for Better Agriculture

Authors:
  • VSVandana Devi V. S.
    Vandana Devi V. S.
  • SRSheeja K. Raj
    Sheeja K. Raj
  • ASAswathy Sreekumar
    Aswathy Sreekumar
  • HSHaleema Sherafudeen
    Haleema Sherafudeen
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Abstract
Living mulch is an eco-friendly practice of growing fast growing leguminous crops in the interrow spaces of a crop with an objective of weed suppression, thereby reducing the use of herbicides for sustainable agriculture. It reduces the negative impacts of intensive agriculture such as land degradation and is a practical way to boost agroecosystem biodiversity. Other benefits include increase in organic carbon content and available nutrient content, improvement in water holding capacity, reduction in soil erosion and pest and diseases. The selection of live mulch species is an important factor with respect to the main crop for reducing the crop- live mulch competition. It suppresses the weeds by shading, competes for light and below ground resources and allelopathy.