### mulch:

Colored mulch
* is made by dyeing the mulch in a water-based solution of colorant and chemical binder.
* product made from chopped up pallets that are then dyed.

Inorganic mulch
* absorb and re-radiate the sun's heat.
* are also widely used in commercial agriculture
  - usually decorative gravels
* can be either manufactured materials like plastic film or natural stone.
* serve most purposes for mulches quite well.

Natural mulch
* are materials such as straw, hay, compost, composted bark, or pine needles.
* encourage soil biological activity.

### mulch:

Organic mulch
* Most organic mulch helps control weeds
  - plants
* Most organic mulch is made of compost
  - mature compost
  - mulches add organic matter to the soil as they decompose
* Some organic mulch helps moisture
  - mulches are colored red, brown, black, and other colors
* add nutrients to the soil and supply organic matter.
* are also important in moderating the environment of the plant's root system
  - cooler than rock mulches in the sun
  - excellent for use under guava trees to eliminate weeds and to conserve moisture
  - loose materials such as wood chips, straw, flax shives or bark
  - typically bark chips, wood grindings, or bagasse
  - wood chips, bark, pine needles, or leaves
* can add nutrients and humus to the soil
  - can aggravate the pest problems
  - improve the soil structure
* consist of plant matter and naturally decompose in the soil.
* decay over time and are temporary.
* decompose and are absorbed by the soil over the growing season
  - on the soil surface and add valuable plant nutrients to the soil
  - releasing nutrients into the soil
* do more than help to retain moisture.
* enhance earthworm habitat by moderating microclimate and supplying a food source
  - the soil's ability to store water
* has benefits
  - the advantage of transferring nutrients into the soil covered
* have a tendency to attract slugs, snail and sow bugs.
* improves the soil structure as they decompose over time
  - thought to interfere with the colonization of crops by winged thrips
* keep the soil moist and reflect less heat.
* moderate soil temperatures.
* provide shelter and food for beneficials like ground beetles and toads.
* shield the soil from heat and wind, reducing soil moisture loss.
* slow the warming of the soil.
* support microbial activity important for tree establishment and growth.
* tend to cool the soil, as well as conserve soil moisture.

### mulch:

Plastic mulch
* are effective in preventing fruit-soil contact
  - sheets or rolls of plastic that are laid on the ground around the trees
  - springtime mulches
* clear plastic film which is placed on the soil surface.
* helps maintain heat in the soil and increases the rate of plant growth
* increase and maintain soil temperature.
* inhibits water and air movement and is detrimental to root growth.
* is less widely used for pumpkin production
  - one technique that can be used to secure earlier yields
* reduces potential evaporation, the downward movement of water and weed growth
  - weeds, promotes growth, and blocks pests moving from the soil to the plant
* tends to warm the soil.
* warm the soil and encourage early root production.

Thick mulch
* are harmful to shallow-rooted plants such as rhododendrons and azaleas.
* keep light away from seedlings and provide a mechanical barrier to emergence.

### multi disciplinary science:

Soil management
* can impact denitrifiers numbers and activity
  - methane transformations
* impacts on soil carbon sequestration by switchgrass.
* is essential in horticulture
  - fundamental to ecosystem management
  - the cornerstone of agricultural systems
* multi disciplinary science.
* requires an understanding of the physical and mechanican properties of soil.