Straw mulching: pros and cons, which type is best for fertilizer and how to use

The straw that remains after harvesting cereal crops brings great benefits to the soil. Because gardeners often use it as top dressing or mulch. This natural material is buried in the ground in late autumn, used for making compost and mulching. With its help, it is possible to improve the soil, fill it with valuable substances and protect plants from parasites. At the same time, mulching with straw has pros and cons.

Composition and useful properties

Straw is called dry stems of different crops that remain after harvesting and threshing.Therefore, cellulose and other carbohydrates are considered the key components of this material. During drying, the stems lose moisture and some of the volatile components. At the same time, carbohydrates and chemical components present in the vegetable juice remain. Thanks to this, straw contributes to the saturation of the soil with valuable substances.

So, 6 tons of straw in the ground helps to fill it with the following elements:

75 kilograms of potassium;
25 kilograms of nitrogen;
14 kilos of calcium;
5 kilograms of phosphorus;
4 kilograms of magnesium.

At the same time, it takes at least 8 months to enrich the soil with these substances. As the substance decomposes, humus is formed. It is from him that the useful properties of the soil depend. To accelerate decomposition, it is recommended to add mineral nitrogen to the composition. Otherwise, the soil will lose some of its valuable components.

Effect on soil and plants

Dry organic matter affects the structure of the soil, causing it to loosen during overheating. As a result, the soil becomes softer, and comfortable conditions for the development of cultivated plants are created.

Erosion can also be avoided with the help of straw. If this raw material is buried in autumn, it is possible to improve air exchange and increase the absorption characteristics of the soil. Spreading the mulch between the rows will help prevent weed growth.

The material from legumes and cereals is considered especially valuable. At the same time, shoots of diseased plants should not be used as top dressing.

Advantages and disadvantages

Before using straw on your site, it is important to study its benefits and harms. The main advantages of this material include the following:

no additional cash investment;
improving soil structure - straw loosens the soil and increases its water permeability;
contains many useful organic components, vitamins and amino acids;
no need for specific storage conditions;
ability to retain moisture in the soil;
saturation of soil with carbon, creation of favorable conditions for plant photosynthesis;
the ability to restore depleted soil - for this, several varieties of straw are usually used;
Protection of cultivated plants from burnout and suppression of weed development.

At the same time, the material has certain disadvantages. These include the following:

the presence of pest larvae in the composition - they can lead to a deterioration in the development and growth of cultivated plants;
risk of damage to the roots when using insufficiently decomposed material - this is due to the release of harmful acids;
need for additional soil moisture;
long-term effect - valuable components from the coating will fall into the soil only after a few years.

In terms of the amount of valuable organic components, straw is several times greater than ordinary manure. To reduce the risk of negative consequences from the use of the material, it is required to be applied annually. Moreover, it is recommended to do this immediately after harvesting.

When using a substance, it is important to strictly adhere to the dosage. If you add nitrogen, black soil or peat to dry straw, the rate of its overheating will increase significantly - by about 35%.

How to use straw in the garden

Straw can be used on your site in many ways. This will help saturate the soil with useful substances and improve the development of cultivated plants.

Pure

The easiest way to use such material in the country is to bury it in the ground in early autumn. However, the effectiveness of this method directly depends on the amount of rain. If there is too little rain, the straw will not be able to flow. As a result, the site will not be suitable for planting next season.

Manufacture of fertilizers

Straw can be used on a personal summer cottage as a fertilizer. Before laying the raw material in the ground, it must be well crushed. In this case, the straws should have dimensions of 9-16 centimeters. Before applying the substance, the soil must be fed with nitrogen fertilizers - urea or nitrate. 100 kilograms of such funds must be used per 1 hectare.

Dry stalks are recommended to be laid in the ground to a depth of 13 centimeters. The material is characterized by slow overheating. Therefore, you should not dig deep into the soil.

Mulching

Straw mulch is highly efficient. This material can be used in different seasons:

in winter - a mulch cover will help protect the beds from frost;
spring - mulch reliably protects plantings from burns;
in summer - the cover protects the beds from overheating and maintains normal soil moisture parameters.

In addition, mulch stops the development of weeds. Thanks to the use of straw as a mulching material, it is possible to increase the amount of organic matter in the soil. As a result, the soil becomes more airy and loose.

Main Application Mistakes

Some gardeners make a lot of mistakes when mulching:

Mulching is carried out in the greenhouse.In this case, this agricultural technique does not always provide the desired results, since not all organic materials can be used in protected ground. The greenhouse is always hot and humid. In addition, it does not circulate air well. As a result, the straw begins to rot and become covered with fungi. This causes the development of dangerous pathologies.
Do not combine straw mulching with nitrogen fertilization. The fact is that this natural material removes nitrogen from the soil. The deficiency of this element negatively affects the growth of cultivated plants. To avoid this, before mulching, the soil must be watered with manure infusion. It is also acceptable to use urea.
Mulching is carried out in early spring, immediately after planting the seed. This procedure negatively affects the process of emergence of sprouts and the development of culture. Mulching is allowed only fully heated soil. Otherwise, there is a high probability of a delay in the development of culture.However, there are certain exceptions to the rule. So, potatoes need to be mulched immediately after planting.
Cover heavy soil with a thick layer of straw. In this case, the lower part of the mulch begins to rot. On clay soil, you need to lay chopped straw with a layer of up to 2 centimeters. After that, it is worth adding material with an interval of 2 weeks.

Mulching with straw is considered an effective procedure that helps maintain optimal soil moisture and prevent the active growth of weeds. It is important to follow the recommendations of experienced gardeners.