This is the VOA Special English Agriculture
Report.
Mulch is important to farmers. Mulch
is a protective cover of material that is spread on top of soil.
It is usually made out of organic material, like crop waste. Farmers may keep
the remains of maize or other crops on top of the soil. This creates mulch on
the soil surface. The plant remains help protect the soil against wind and water
damage. This is called conservation
tillage.
Mulching is one of the best things people can do for their plants. Mulch not
only protects the soil against wind and water damage. It also helps keep the
soil from getting dry, and reduces the need for watering plants. It also limits
temperature changes in the soil. And it stops unwanted plants, or weeds, from
growing.
Organic mulch improves the condition of soil. As the mulch breaks down, it
provides material which keeps the soil from getting hard. This improves the
growth of roots and increases the movement of water through the soil. It also
improves the ability of the soil to hold water. Organic mulch contains nutrients
for plants. It also provides a good environment for earthworms and other helpful
organisms in the soil.
The United States Department of Agriculture says it is easy to find organic
mulch materials. Cut-up leaves and small pieces of tree bark can be used. Grass
cuttings are also a good mulch for plants. Mulch from newspapers works well in
controlling weeds.
The best time to add mulch depends on your goal. Mulch provides a thick
barrier between the soil and the air. This helps to reduce temperature changes
in the soil. As a result, mulched soil will be cooler than other soil in the
summer. Mulched areas usually warm up more slowly in the spring and cool down
slowly in autumn. In winter, the mulched soil may not freeze as deeply as other
soil.
Mulch used to help moderate the effects of winter weather can be added late
in autumn. The best time is after the ground has frozen, but before the coldest
weather arrives. Spreading mulch before the ground has frozen may attract small
animals searching for a warm place to spend the winter. Delaying the spreading
should prevent this problem. The animals will probably find another place to
live.
And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by George
Grow. Your can download transcripts and audio files of our reports at
voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.
mulch :a
protective covering, usually of organic matter such as leaves, straw, or peat,
placed around plants to prevent the evaporation of moisture, the freezing of
roots, and the growth of
weeds（覆蓋層；放在植物周圍以防止水分蒸發(fā)、根被凍壞及野草生長的保護(hù)性覆蓋物，通常由樹葉、谷物和泥炭等有機物質(zhì)構(gòu)成）
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