Development of sustainable and Biodegradable Mulching for Agro Textiles application using Deccani Wool Fibre with added Functionality using Plant Micronutrient.

Objectives of the Proposal

• Development of sustainable and biodegradable mulch for Agro Textiles application using Deccani Wool Fibre.
• To enhance the durability of the natural fibre based mulch by adding natural biopolymers such as chitosan, alginate and starch.
• Incorporation of micronutrient in developed mulch for crop and soil enrichment.
• Field trial of the developed wool fibre based mulch for selected fruit and vegetable crops to study the effect of developed Mulching material on Phenology and Agronomic Trait of the crop.
• To study the life span of developed mulching in terms of biodegradability and soil enrichment in comparison with the existing polyethylene based material.

Progress of the Project

• A field study was conducted at Dr. Annasaheb Shinde College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth Rahuri, comparing the performance of different mulching materials during the first season with groundnut and green chillis crops.
• The study included 100% wool mulch, conventional synthetic mulch and micronutrient - coated wool mulch.

Represents the on field layering of 100% wool mulch, micronutrient coated mulch and synthetic mulch.	Represents the on crop growth with 100% wool mulch, micronutrient coated mulch and synthetic mulch.
Represents the sowing of seeds in the field trials	Represents the Fertilizer application in the field trials
Represents the insecticide spraying	M1: Bio-degradable (100 %)
Mo: Control- no mulch	M4: Silver-Black Plastic