Plastic Mulch (Mulching Film)

The plastic mulch is a polythene made film used for weed control. The plastic mulch is used to cover the soil so that weeds will not be able to access sunlight for growth.

Plastic mulch ensures that the soil surface is totally sealed off; however, holes are created on the plastic mulch for the planting of crops. The plastic mulch is one of the products of the plasticulture technology used in modern farming.

With the use of plastic mulch for weed control, the cost of weeding can be significantly reduced. It can also reduce nutrients leaching and water run-off.

Product Features

• Colour: Silver on black and black colour
• Size: Rolls of 300 metres and 500 metres
• Dimension: 2 metres by 300 metres and 1.5 metres by 300 metres
• Package Size: Packed in Rolls
• UV Resistance: Yes
• Brand: Veggie Concept

Sizes of Plastic Mulch Films Available for Sale

The below are the types of plastic mulch available for sales:

300m by 1.2m plastic mulch film

The 300 metres by 1.2 metres plastic mulch film has a length of 300 metres and a width of 1.3 metres. It can be used for weed control inss vegetables and other crops.

The 300 metres by 1.2 metres comes in several colours. We have the black coloured type, the silver on black colour type and the blue type. The silver on black colour type is the most popular as it reflects the rays of the sun and deters aphids and other insects.

This plastic mulch has thickness ratings of 25 microns, 30 microns and 35 microns.

300m by 1.5m plastic mulch film

The 300 metres by 1.5 metres plastic mulch film is usually used for beds or ridges that are large in size. It has a length of 300 metres and a breadth of 1.5 metres.

This large size mulching film has the advantage of covering all the surface of the beds so that weeds would not have any space to grow.

This plastic mulch has thickness ratings of 25 microns, 30 microns and 35 microns.

Price of Plastic Mulch

The price of plastic mulch in Nigeria depends on a lot of factors; the factors are highlighted as follows:

• The quality of the plastic mulch
• The size of the plastic mulch
• The colour of the plastic mulch
• The UV property of the plastic mulch

The quality of the plastic mulch

High quality mulching films are usually more expensive than low quality plastic mulch. This is due to the quality of the materials used in production.

The size of the plastic mulch

Bigger sized plastic mulches are usually more expensive than smaller size plastic mulches. This is due to the fact that more materials are used in the production of bigger plastic mulches.

The colour of the plastic mulch

Multi-colour plastic mulch like silver on black plastic mulch are more expensive than single colour plastic mulch.

The UV property of the plastic mulch

Plastic mulches with ultra violet rays resistance property are usually pricier than those without UV property.

The price of plastic mulch film of size 300 metres by 1.5 metres is ₦25,000 – ₦35,000 at Veggie Concept.

How to install plastic mulch in your farm

The following steps should be taken when installing plastic mulch or mulching films:

• Ridges or beds should be made. The beds should be straight as bendy beds or ridges may make it impossible for the smooth installation of plastic mulches.
• Prepare the plastic mulch for installation. The plastic mulch should be unrolled and holes should be created on them. Simple tools can be used to create planting holes on the plastic mulches.
• The unrolled plastic mulch should be attached firmly to the bed. There are stakes or pegs that can be used to attach the plastic mulch to the soil beds.
• After laying the plastic mulch on the soil bed, irrigate the soil and plant your seeds or seedlings.

Types of Plastic Mulch

The following are types of plastic mulch in Nigeria:

Silver on Black Plastic Mulch

The silver on black plastic mulch has a silver and black colour. One side of the plastic mulch has a silver colour and another side of it has a black colour.

The plastic mulch is installed on the soil in such a way that the silver colour faces up. The silver colour reflects sunlight and prevents the activities of aphids and some insects on the farm.

Black Plastic Mulch

The black plastic mulch has a black colour. The black colour makes it absorbs heat. The heat is antagonistic to the survival of harmful insects and microbes in the soil. The black plastic mulch can also conserve water in the soil.

White Plastic Mulch

The white plastic mulch is usually used in temperate areas. It can also be used for weed control.

Red Plastic Mulch

The red plastic mulch is known for increasing the yield of crops like pepper and tomato. It can also prevent the growth of weeds.

Blue Plastic Mulch

The blue plastic mulch is a type of mulching film with a blue colour. It is usually used for weed control in cucurbits like cucumber, watermelon and squash. It has been proven that the blue plastic mulch can increase the yield of cucurbits.

Factors to consider in order to buy the best plastic mulch in Nigeria

To buy the best plastic mulch in Nigeria, the following factors have to be considered:

The Price of the Plastic Mulch

Never ever buy any plastic mulch because it appears cheap. Do not be deceived, most of the ridiculously cheap plastic mulches around are of low quality that will not last long. Insist on buying only quality weed control film even if expensive.

UV Property of the Plastic Mulch

Plastic mulches with ultra violet rays resistance last longer than those without UV tolerance. Contact credible vendors like Veggie Concept to guide you on the best type of plastic mulch to buy.

Attributes of the Plastic Mulch

The plastic mulch comes in different types; they have different thickness ratings, length, width, colour and size. All these attributes must be considered before a purchase decision is taken.

Where you are buying

You should only buy plastic mulches from vendors that are credible. Do not buy from wayside traders.

Benefits of Plastic Mulch in Nigeria

The following are the benefits of using plastic mulches:

• The use of plastic mulch serves as an effective weed control mechanism. The plastic mulch blocks the weeds from accessing sunlight, this kills the weeds. Crops grown without weeds can achieve its full yield potentials.
• In cold climates, the use of some types of plastic mulches can enable farmers to plant early. Planting early for some farmers can improve the earnings and overall farm profit.
• Plastic mulches help in the retention of moisture or water in soil. This can go a long way in enabling plants to have constant access to water. This will ultimately lead to a higher crop yield. Water can also be conserved during the dry times.
• Plastic mulches can be used for soil insulation and soil temperature control. Some types of plastic mulches can be used to increase or decrease soil temperature. In cold areas, the transparent plastic mulch can be used to increase soil temperature.
• The plastic mulch can be used to prevent the structure of soil. Sunlight and erosion can negatively impact the structure of soil.
• The plastic mulch can also improve the quality of fruits by preventing them to touch the soil. Soil borne pests and diseases can damage fruits and make them less marketable.
• Plastic mulches also make more fertilizers and nutrients available to the plants by preventing erosion and nutrients leaching.
• The use of plastic mulch can reduce the incidences of pests and diseases by making the soil inhabitable for harmful pests and microbes.
• Plastic mulches may prevent root damage during weeding by hoes, cutlasses and motorized weeders.

FAQ on Plastic Mulch (Questions and Answers)

Question: Can plastic mulch prevent the growth of weeds?

Answer: Yes, plastic mulches can stop the growth of weeds.

Question: Will plastic mulch affect the growth of the main plants?

Answer: Plastic mulch will not negatively affect the growth of the main plants. It can improve the growth of the main plants by preventing competition caused by weeds.

Question: Can the plastic mulch help in retention of water in the soil?

Answer: Yes, the plastic mulch can help in retaining moisture in the soil.

Question: Is it compulsory to use plastic mulch for farming?

Answer: No, it is not compulsory to use plastic mulch for farming. However, the use of plastic mulch may serve as an effective weed control and crop yield booster.

To order or buy a plastic mulch, please call us on 08066437109.