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484-2 determined using current erosion prediction mulch with C:N less than 20:1 to the area of technology to reach the soil erosion objective. designed flow in watercourses. When mulching with wood products such as Credit nutrients applied with the mulch to the wood chips, bark, or shavings or other wood nutrient budget. materials, apply to a 2-inch thickness if the soil is Use the Soil Conditioning Index to assess soil not well-drained, and to a 3-to 4-inch thickness quality impacts. if drainage is good. More finely textured mulches, which allow less oxygen penetration CONSIDERATIONS than coarser materials, should be no thicker than 1 or 2 inches. The mulch material shall provide Consider the effects of mulching on evaporation, no greater than 80 percent ground cover in order infiltration and runoff. Mulch material may affect to ensure adequate air drainage. microbial activity in the soil surface, increase Gravel or other inorganic material shall be infiltration, and decrease runoff, erosion and applied approximately 2 inches thick and shall evaporation. Increased infiltration may increase consist of pieces 0.75 to 2 inches in diameter. nutrient and chemical transport below the root The mulch material shall provide no more than zone. The temperature of the surface runoff 90 percent ground cover in order to ensure may also be lowered. adequate air drainage. Mulched soil retains moisture, requires less watering and reduces the chance of water stress Additional Criteria To Suppress Weed on plant materials. Mulch also minimizes Growth evaporation from the soil surface and hence The thickness of mulch will be determined by the reduces losses from bare soil areas. size of the plant being mulched. Small plants Mulch materials high in organic matter with a must not be smothered. Mulches shall be kept high water holding capacity and high clear of the stems of plants where disease is impermeability to water droplets may adversely likely to occur. Mulches applied around growing affect the water needs of plants. plants or prior to weed seedling development Clear and infra-red transmissible (IRT) plastics shall have 100 percent ground cover. Thickness have the greatest warming potential. They are of the mulch shall be adequate to prevent transparent to incoming radiation and trap the emergence of targeted weeds. Plastic mulches longer wavelengths radiating from the soil. may be used. Black mulches are limited to warming soils by Additional Criteria To Establish Vegetative conduction only and are less effective. Cover Clear mulches allow profuse weed growth and Mulch shall be applied at a rate that achieves 50 may negate the benefits of soil warming. Black percent ground cover to provide protection from mulches provide effective weed control. erosion and runoff and yet allow adequate light Wavelength selective (IRT) blends the soil and air penetration to the seedbed to ensure warming characteristics of clear mulch with the proper germination, emergence, and disease weed control ability of black mulch. suppression. Consider potential toxic allopathic effects that mulch material may have on other organisms. Additional Criteria To Improve Soil Condition Animal and plant pest species may be And Increase Soil Fertility incompatible with the site. To increase soil fertility, apply mulch materials Consider the potential for increased pathogenic with a carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N) less than 30 activity within the applied mulch material. to 1 such as animal manure, bio-solids, food processing wastes, or similar materials. Apply Keep mulches 3 to 6 inches away from plant other practices such as contouring, filter strips or stems and crowns to prevent disease and pest riparian forest buffers to assure that runoff from problems. the mulched areas will not transport mulching Deep mulch provides nesting habitat for ground- materials to sensitive waterbodies. Do not apply burrowing rodents that can chew extensively on NRCS, NHCP July 2002