Another term for bagasse mulch is sugarcane pulp.
Bagasse mulch refers to sugarcane leftovers. It is a fibrous material obtained after harvesting the juice from sugar cane.
Sugarcane bagasse is stored when wet for blending with water to produce a pulp. It serves many functions.Sugar pulp is a biodegradable product that takes between 30 and 90 days to break down under commercial composting conditions.
When broken down, bagasse can serve as a soil conditioner and a fertilizer.
Additionally, it is environmentally friendly. The mulch does not have similar effects on the environment like paper and plastic products when they decay.
Initially, sugar pulp used to be thrown away. Nowadays, it is kept and used as a renewable resource.
Sugarcane bagasse mulch is very eco-friendly and it decomposes into the organic matter over a period of time depending on the turnover rate, moisture, temperature, and many other factors. Therefore, sugarcane bagasse does not harm the soil and is essential for your farm as a fertilizer. Bagasse mulch also breaks down into natural elements that do not harm the soil in a compost environment.
Bagasse mulch comprises organic and inorganic mulch.
Organic mulch may be pine needles, pine straws, chopped leaves, barks, and woodchips.
Inorganic mulches are derived from materials like recycled rubbers, landscape fabrics, rocks, and newspapers.
During cold seasons, straw, chopped leaves, and pine mulch are most preferred to maintain the temperature of the soil.
Pine bark mulch is recommended for vegetable gardens, trees, and shrubs as it does not break down fast.Wood bark and chip mulches are used for garden beds, shrubs, trees, and slopes because they retain water.
Anti-termite mulches contain a notable amount of tea tree oil that resists termites and insects.
Pebbles and gravel mulches are recommended for succulent plants and help in minimising soil evaporation.