Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA): Role of Mulching in Vegetable Crops from Nashik District, (M.S) India

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) aims to enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen resilience to climate variability, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Vegetable crops are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to their high water demand and sensitivity to temperature extremes. Mulching has emerged as an effective CSA practice for vegetable production by improving the soil microclimate and resource-use efficiency. This research presents findings on the role of mulching in vegetable crops within the CSA framework, focusing on climate change adaptation and mitigation benefits. Nashik is a large vegetable producing district where mulching is practiced in various vegetable crops like tomato, brinjal, capsicum, cucumber, and cabbage. Organic mulches (crop residues, straw, compost) and inorganic mulches (plastic films) significantly reduce soil moisture loss, moderate soil temperature fluctuations, suppress weeds, and improve soil health. Evidence indicates that mulching enhances water-use efficiency by 25-40%, stabilizes vegetable yields under drought and heat stress, and contributes to soil organic carbon sequestration. While plastic mulches promote early crop establishment and higher short-term yields, organic mulches provide long-term benefits through improved soil structure and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, mulching represents a low-cost, scalable, and climate-resilient practice that supports the core objectives of CSA in vegetable-based cropping systems.