Some consequences of bituminous mulches

Abstract

The temperature and moisture consequences of bitumen mulching were examined experimentally.

Because of its colour and surface contact nature, bitumen behaved dissimilarly to conventional "air blanket" mulches by increasing soil temperatures. Whether in a continuous surface or in a cultivated (broken) and admixed form, bitumen mulches conserved soil moisture.

The behaviour of plants was dominated by the soil physical conditions imposed by the bitumen mulch as long as the vegetative cover was small.