Vegetative Mulches in Tonga

The resulting 81% increase in Taro corm (root) yield compared to conventional farming methods was attributed to increased soil moisture and improved soil structure, both crucial to plant growth especially in dry conditions (Manu et al., 2018).

In the case of Paper Mulberry, use of mulch increased the bark yield by 30% compared to the control (Manu et al., 2018). This increase is especially significant given the crops is used in the production of tapa cloth, an Indigenous material with significance both culturally and economically.

The authors utilised mulch to improve soil moisture retention, soil quality and reduce erosion in agricultural settings. The application of mulch reduced soil loss by up to 50% on sloping land cultivated with Taro (Manu et al., 2018). This reduction is an important finding for reducing soil degradation, which is common in intensively used agricultural land (Feary, 2011).

Mulching reduced the weeding required across the study, resulting in reduced labour costs. This is beneficial because labour costs often constitute a significant portion of expenses for small-scale agriculture (Georgeou et al., 2022). 

The use of mulch resulted in higher net profits compared to non-mulched areas, T$2660/ha for taro and T$12,108/ha for paper mulberry (Manu et al., 2018). This highlights the economic viability of mulch as a method to incorporate into agriculture for local people producing food and other plant resources.