Mulching and saving water

Mulching, keeping soil moisture and holding rainwater in the field.

The advice below comes from each crop's guide — every item shows its source, region and date. It is pending expert review; ask your local officer whether it suits your area.

Crops with advice (16)

Tap a crop to open its advice.

Jowar1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Field preparation (rainfed)
  Prepare the field well in advance, taking advantage of early showers. Apply FYM at 12.5 t/ha and incorporate it well at ploughing. To conserve soil moisture, sow in flat beds and form furrows between crop rows during inter-cultivation or in the third week after sowing.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Rainfed sorghum – Field preparation, p. 74
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-04
Cotton2 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Land preparation (rainfed)
  Follow water harvesting techniques. Start land preparation immediately after the harvest of the previous crop, and adopt a permanent broad ridges system. Spread 12.5 t of FYM, compost or composted coir pith, or 2.5 t of vermicompost per hectare uniformly on the unploughed soil, and incorporate it with a multipurpose implement or country plough.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Rainfed cotton – Preparation of land, p. 268
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-04
- Foliar nutrition and moisture conservation (rainfed)
  Spray 0.5% urea and 1% KCl on the 45th and 65th day of sowing if there is sufficient moisture. In black soils, a broad bed and furrow (BBF) system with coir pith at 5 t/ha improves soil moisture retention and seed cotton yield.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Rainfed cotton – Foliar fertilization & in-situ water harvesting, p. 271
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-04
Tomato1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Irrigation and mulching
  After the seedlings are established, irrigate at weekly intervals. Mulch with black LDPE sheets of 25 micron thickness, burying both ends 10 cm into the soil.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Tomato – Irrigation & mulching, p. 58
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-04
Elephant foot yam1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Water, mulch and fertilizer
  Mostly rainfed; irrigate weekly when the monsoon fails. Waterlogging harms the crop. Mulch right after planting to save moisture, moderate soil temperature and suppress weeds. FYM 25 t/ha at the last ploughing; NPK 80:60:100 kg/ha in total — 40:60:50 at 45 days with weeding, then N 40 and K 50 a month later.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Elephant foot yam – Irrigation; mulching; application of fertilizers, pp. 143–144
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-04
Ginger1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Manure, mulch and earthing up
  Basal: FYM 25–30 t/ha and 50 kg P + 25 kg K per hectare. Mulch with 30 t/ha of green leaves in three splits: 15 t immediately after planting, and 7.5 t each at 60 and 120 days. Top-dress 37.5 kg N + 12.5 kg K per hectare on the 45th and 90th day, and earth up the plants after each top dressing.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Ginger – Manures and manuring; after cultivation, p. 174
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-04
Cardamom2 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Raising plants and spacing
  Collect seeds from healthy, high-yielding plants (600 g/ha of fresh seed). The source gives an acid seed treatment before sowing — do this only with guidance from your officer. Sow in beds of rotted cattle manure, wood ash and jungle soil, cover with fine sand, mulch, shade and keep moist; germination starts after a month. Move one-year-old seedlings to a shaded secondary nursery at 20 x 20 cm and transplant at 18–22 months. Suckers from high-yielding plants can also be multiplied in clonal nurseries. Plant in 60 cm pits filled with compost and topsoil (contour planting on slopes): Mysore type 3 x 3 m, Malabar 2 x 2 m, Vazhukka 2.4 x 2.4 m.
  Follow the instructions on the product label. Consult your local Agriculture Officer before use.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Cardamom – Seeds and sowing; secondary nursery; propagation from suckers; spacing, pp. 168–169
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-05
- Irrigation, fertilizer and shade
  Mostly rainfed; sprinkler irrigation in summer increases yield. Compost 25 t/ha and NPK 75:75:150 kg/ha in two splits (June–July and October–November). Keep shade at 40–50% for rainfed and 55–60% for irrigated crops with a mix of medium-sized shade trees. At the end of the monsoon, lightly rake and mulch around plants (about 75 cm radius) to save moisture for the dry season.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Cardamom – Irrigation; manuring; after cultivation, p. 169
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-05
Sweet orange1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Pruning and mulching
  No regular pruning is needed; after harvest, remove only dead, diseased and overcrowding branches. Mulch the basins with dry leaf waste or paddy husk about 10 cm thick to stop weeds, conserve moisture and improve fruit quality.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Sweet Orange – After cultivation, p. 17
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-04
Acid lime1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Pruning, zinc spray and mulching
  Remove branches on the main stem up to 45 cm from the ground. Regularly cut off dried twigs together with about one inch of green wood below, and burn them. Spray zinc sulphate 0.5% (500 g per 100 litres) three times a year — March, July and October — after new flushes appear. Mulch the basins with dry leaves or paddy husk about 10 cm thick.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Acid Lime – After cultivation, p. 14
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-04
Pineapple1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Uniform flowering and mulching
  For uniform flowering, the source lists growth-regulator solutions poured into the crown at the 35–40 leaf stage, and an NAA spray after fruit set for bigger fruits — use these only with officer guidance. Give adequate shade to avoid iron chlorosis. Mulching with black polythene followed by thatch grass or sawdust improves yield and quality and suppresses weeds.
  Follow the instructions on the product label. Consult your local Agriculture Officer before use.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Pineapple – After cultivation, p. 30
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-05
Ber1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Planting and water harvesting
  Use T-budded or patch-budded plants. Plant in July–August at 7 x 7 m in 1 m pits. Irrigate at first for establishment, and give the ground a 5% slope towards the tree base to harvest rainwater in place.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Ber – Planting material; planting; irrigation, p. 40
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-05
Coconut1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Mulching and husk burial for drought
  Mulch the 1.8 m basin with 100 coconut husks (convex side up), 15 dried coconut leaves, or coir pith up to 10 cm, especially in summer. To fight drought and button shedding, bury 100 husks (concave side up) or 25 kg coir pith per palm in a circular trench 30 cm wide and 60 cm deep at 1.5 m from the palm; the husk soaks up and holds monsoon rain.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Coconut – Drought management; husk burial, p. 213
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-05
Oil palm1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Nursery and planting
  Plant 12–14-month-old healthy seedlings, 1–1.3 m tall with 13 functional leaves, in May–June. Use 60 cm pits at 9 m triangular spacing (143 palms/ha), then form a basin and irrigate heavily. Mulch basins with empty bunches, male flowers, coconut husk or sugarcane trash to save moisture and control weeds.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Oil Palm – Nursery techniques; planting, p. 225
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-05
Coffee1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Pruning, intercrops and cover digging
  Do centring and desuckering for 5–6 years after planting, right after harvest; remove unproductive wood and dead, exhausted branches. Orange, pepper, banana, pineapple, avocado and custard apple can be intercropped. Weed and mulch as needed; at the end of the monsoon (October–November), dig 30 cm deep and bury weeds and debris ("cover digging"); on slopes, dig contour trenches 45 cm wide and 30 cm deep.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Coffee – Pruning; intercropping; after cultivation, p. 198
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-05
Rubber1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Cover crops, intercrops and young plant care
  Grow and incorporate cover crops (such as Pueraria, Calopogonium, Centrosema) to protect the soil. For the first 4–5 years, banana, pineapple, tuber crops, ginger, turmeric, vegetables and cocoa can be intercropped. Mulch basins with dry leaves, cuttings or straw; protect young plants from strong sun with plaited coconut-leaf guards and by white-washing brown stem parts. Induce branching at 2.5–3 m by the leaf-fold or leaf-cap method.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Rubber – After cultivation; intercrops; mulching; branch induction, pp. 208–209
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-05
Cocoa1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Raising and planting
  Remove the pulp and sow seeds one per polybag right after extraction, in a mix of 2 parts red soil, 1 part sand and 1 part FYM (with 5 kg superphosphate per tonne). Seedlings are ready at 6 months (about 60 cm). Plant with the earth ball in 45 cm pits at 3 x 3 m, stake, mulch, water and give temporary shade (about 50% shade at first, 40% later; banana works well as early shade). As an intercrop: one row between coconut rows (about 500 plants/ha), between arecanut rows (about 686/ha), or five plants between four oil palms (about 400/ha).
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Cocoa – Seeds and sowing; planting; time and method of planting, pp. 203–204
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-05
Sugarcane1 recommendations
Full guide for this crop →
- Gap filling, trash mulching and intercrops
  Fill gaps with two-budded setts or poly-bag seedlings within 15–20 days of planting (sprouted setts within 30 days), and keep adequate moisture for 3 weeks. Within a week of planting, mulch the ridges with cane trash 10 cm thick — it conserves moisture, reduces weeds and shoot borer (avoid it where termites occur). With adequate irrigation, sow one row of soybean, black gram or green gram along the ridge centre on the 3rd day.
  Pending expert review
  Source
  Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Sugarcane – Filling up gaps; trash mulching; inter crops, p. 292
  Region
  Tamil Nadu
  Last updated
  2026-11-04