How can mulching help control weeds in my crop?

Mulching controls weeds by covering the soil so that weed seeds get little or no light and cannot establish, and it brings extra benefits of saving moisture and keeping the soil cooler. There are two main types. Organic mulch like paddy straw, dry leaves, or crop residue is spread on the soil surface; it suppresses weeds, adds organic matter as it breaks down, and is cheap if you have residue, which is one reason a paddy-residue mulch under a Happy Seeder reduces weed emergence in the following wheat. Plastic mulch, usually black film laid on raised beds with the crop planted through holes, gives very strong weed control and water saving and is widely used in high-value vegetables and fruit like tomato, capsicum, watermelon and strawberry, though it has an upfront cost and the film must be disposed of properly. Mulching is most worth it in widely spaced, high-value crops where weed control and water saving pay back the cost, and in conservation systems with crop residue. It reduces but does not always fully remove weeds, so a little hand weeding of escapes may still be needed. For any chemical used alongside mulch, use only products recommended for that crop and confirm with your KVK.