Natural fibre based non-woven agrotextile mulch: A boon for natural farming

Abstract

Natural fibres play a key role in the emerging green economy, which focuses on concern for the environment, the well-being of fibre producers and consumers. One very important application of natural fibres encompasses the emerging sector like natural fibre based agrotextile to tackle alarming plastic pollution, especially growing microplastic fragments in crop fields. As conventional approach of traditional agriculture poses serious threats to the environmental sustainability, natural farming has emerged as a dynamic alternate farming system during the last two decades. Natural fibre based agrotextile mulch can be a vital component of natural farming system in resource limited agriculture. Several studies have highlighted the spectacular benefits of natural fibre based agrotextile applications in different crops in terms of soil moisture conservation, soil temperature control, weed
control, microbial population, crop production enhancement and improved fruit quality.