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NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE <br />CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD <br />MULCHING <br />(Acre) <br />CODE 484 <br />DEFINITION <br />Applyutg plant residues. by-products or other <br />suitable materials produced oft site, to the land <br />surface <br />PURPOSE <br />• Conserve soil moisture <br />• Moderate soil temperature <br />• Provide erosion control <br />• Suppress weed growth <br />• Establish vegetative rover <br />Ir:prcxe sc 1 condition and increase so,l <br />fcr!~nty <br />CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES <br />This practice applies to all lands where mulches <br />are needod This practice maybe used alone or <br />In combination with other practices. <br />CRITERIA <br />General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes <br />The select{on of mulching materials wdl depend <br />primanly on site ccndilions and the material's <br />avaltabilily. h7ulch materals shall consist o' <br />natural and~or artificial malorials such as plant <br />residue, wood bark or chips, byproducts. gravel, <br />plastic, fabne, animal manure, rice hulls, and <br />materials frorn food processing plants or other <br />equivalent malorials of sulfcient dimension (depth <br />or thickness} and durabdiiy to achieve the <br />Intended purpose for the required time penod, <br />M14ulching rs generally performed after grading, soil <br />surface preparation and seeding and plantings <br />are complete. Soo surface shall ha prepared In <br />order to achieve the desired purpose <br />Evenly apply and anchor mulch materials to Iho <br />soil. Use taekifiors, emulsions, pinning, netting, <br />crimping and or other acceptable methods of <br />anchodrg as needod, to hold the mulch m place <br />for specified periods <br />Apply manutactured mulches according to the <br />manufacturer's specifications. <br />Mulching oporaUons shall comply vnlh all <br />applicable Federal, slate and/or local laws and <br />regulations during the installation. operahun and <br />malnlenance of this practice. <br />Mulch malorials shall be relatively free of tlisease, <br />noxious weed seeds. and other pests and <br />pathogens. <br />Additional Criteria to Conserve Soil Moisture <br />Mulch materials applied to the sea surface shall <br />provide al !east 60 percent cover to reduce <br />potential evapora!lon. Apply mulch materials prier <br />to moisture loss. Prior to mulching, ensure sett <br />under shaaev: rooted crops is mast, as those <br />coos •e~u.re a constant supply of moisture. <br />Additional Criteria to Moderate Soil <br />Temperature <br />r.',u!c~~ n.at?naffs shah be selected and applied to <br />pbta~n ! UD percent coverage over the area <br />treated. The material shall be of a sigmLcant <br />thickness to persist for the period reyu;red fur the <br />temperature mpddicahon. <br />When mulchdng with cereal grain slrav+or grass <br />hay, apply in suH!cient amounts to prcvde 70 <br />percent ground cover. Determine mulching <br />application rates using current approved erosion <br />prediCllOn teChn010gy IV reach the SOII er0510n <br />objective. <br />NRCS,CO <br />October 2004 <br />