Quality mulching papers in Kenya are UV treated low density polythene materials used for blocking weed growth in crop fields.
Agricultural Plastic Mulching Paper for Sale
Agricultural Mulching papers are available in micron levels of 60 to 80 microns at Aqua Hub LTD. Our mulching paper prices are customer reliable. We also help farmers with laying mulching films in their farms for those who need assistance.
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Mulching in Agriculture
Mulching is a method of preventing moisture and weed growth by covering the soil using leaves, grass, saw dust or mulching papers. The use of plastic mulching films is part of “plasticulture” using plastic materials to enhance crop growing.
Mulching offers the following benefits:
- They reduce evaporation of water from the soil. That means your irrigation or rainfall goes further.
- They suppress weed growth by blocking sunlight and air access to weed seeds.
- They can warm the soil (especially black or dark-coloured films) which helps early germination or faster growth of warm-season crops.
- They help keep the soil surface more stable (less erosion, less crusting) when rainfall is heavy or when soil is loose.
How to Use Mulching Papers
Mulching paper use works for crops grown in rows on raised beds.
If you have crop rows, you lay the film over the bed, cut holes for plants, secure the edges, then plant. The film covers the soil between plants preventing weeds, while retaining moisture and keeping the soil warm. With proper setup you reduce labour and improve crop performance.
Mulching Papers | Sustainable Farming Solution
Mulching papers are part of the sustainable farming solutions in Kenya. Here are the reasons why they are considered essential crop farming films.
- Because the film reduces water loss, you use less water or can maintain more stable moisture levels. In semi-arid parts of Kenya that matters a lot.
- Reduced need for herbicides because the film suppresses weeds. That reduces labour, chemical cost, and environmental pollution.
- Improved yield and crop quality (better moisture, stabilized temperature) means more efficient land use. For example, one Kenyan study found black plastic film increased soil-water storage and yields when combined with other practices.
Limitations of Mulching Films
- The film is plastic: if you use low quality material that degrades quickly, you’ll create plastic waste. Some newer films are biodegradable, but these may cost more.
- Removal of the film at end of season matters. If you leave fragments, you risk leaving plastic residue in the soil.
Mulching Film Best Quality
Top quality mulching paper material is identified by using the criteria or factors explained below.
Material & UV-treatment
The best mulching film is made of UV treated polythene material. Because of UV additive in it, the material works under high sunlight intensity.
Colour
Black polythene film absorbs heat and warms the soil while white ones reflect away sunlight.
Thickness & width
- Thickness of mulching film is normally measured in microns. Higher thickness generally means more durability.
- Mulch films are available in thickness of 30, 60, 80 microns.
- Width also matters: many rolls are 1.6 m wide (a common width in Kenya). For large farms you may prefer wider rolls to reduce the number of seams.
- Also check roll length and total square metres covered.
Roll quality anchoring
- Edges must be able to be anchored or buried so the film does not get pulled by wind or water. Good quality film will allow this without tearing.
- The film should be smooth, free of defects, consistent in thickness across the roll.
Crop suitability & lifespan
- Ask how many months or seasons the supplier guarantees. Some mention “6-24 months UV stabilization guarantee.
- Match film to your crop: short-term vegetables might use a thinner film; long season crops need thicker, durable film.
Mulch Paper Size and Specifications
Width and Length (Roll size)
- A common width in Kenya is about 1.6 m for agricultural mulch film
- The length will vary depending on the roll. You need enough roll length to cover your bed lengths without excess waste.
Thickness / Gauge
- Thickness in microns (µm) is key. Typical thickness ranges: 30 µm (thin), 60 µm, 80 µm
- A thicker film resists tearing, UV degradation, is more durable across seasons.
Colour & Surface Treatment
- Black or dark films: absorb heat, warm the soil; good for many vegetable crops.
- Silver/white films: reduce soil temperature in very hot zones, may reflect sunlight.
- UV treatment: film should be UV stabilized so it doesn’t degrade quickly.
- Non-transparent: the film should block sunlight so weeds underneath don’t grow.
Anchoring/Edge Specifications
- Check that the film has edge allowances for anchoring or trenching. When you install you will need to bury the edges or peg them.
- Check roll weight and how easy to handle/unroll on your bed.
How to determine the Size of the Mulching Paper Needed
- To determine how much film you need:
- Measure the total bed area you plan to mulch (length × width).
- Count the number of beds or rows.
- Add extra for overlap, anchoring, cutting holes for plants.
- Choose roll width so you minimise seams. For example, if bed is 1.2 m wide you might choose 1.6 m film width and fold/overlap slightly.
Example
Say you have 3 beds each 100m long and 1.5m wide. That’s area = 3 × (100 × 1.5) = 450 m².
If you purchase film width 1.6 m, you need lengths: 450 ÷ 1.6 ≈ 281 m (plus extra for overlaps/edge). You would need to buy a roll of length 300m × width 1.6m at e.g., 60 microns thickness.
Mulching Paper Price in Kenya
Mulching films cost KES 44,000 to KES 65,000 per roll depending on the thickness size of the film.
What affects the Cost of Mulching Papers?
- Thickness: thinner films cost less but wear out sooner.
- Width: wider film often gives better value per m² but roll cost is higher.
- UV treatment and material quality: films made of virgin polyethylene, UV stabilized, high durability cost more.
- Colour/special surface treatment (silver/reflective) might cost more.
- Bulk/volume purchase: buying many rolls reduces per-unit cost.
- Delivery/logistics: transport to your farm (especially if remote) adds cost.
- Installation extras: you may pay for cutting, anchoring, securing edges; some suppliers include these, others don’t.
Crops to Cultivate with Mulching Papers
Mulching papers work best for crops that grow in rows and benefit from stable soil moisture and temperature. It is ideal for:
- vegetables like tomatoes, capsicum, onions, cabbage, kale, and lettuce.
- Fruit crops such as strawberries, melons, and pineapples also perform well under mulching because the film keeps fruits clean and reduces rot caused by soil contact.
- Herbs like basil and coriander thrive with mulching because it helps control weeds that compete for nutrients.
- For tubers such as sweet potatoes, careful spacing and hole cutting is required so that vines spread freely.
Generally, any crop sensitive to weeds, moisture stress, or soil temperature changes benefits from mulching papers.
The key is matching film color and thickness to your crop’s needs black film for warmth and weed control, silver film for heat reflection in hotter zones, and thicker film for longer-growing crops.
How to Use Mulching Papers in Your Farm
- Prepare the soil: Clear rocks, weeds, level beds if necessary. Remove sharp objects that could puncture film.
- Lay the film: Unroll the roll along your bed alignment. Make sure the film lies flat, without wrinkles, and overlaps or edges are properly placed.
- Anchor the edges Bury edges about 7-10 cm deep or peg them so wind/water don’t lift the film.
- Make planting holes: Use a hot thick metal to make holes on the mulch paper the plant-spacing you require.
- Plant and irrigate crops: In some systems you install drip irrigation underneath or on top depending on crop. Then plant seedlings through the holes.
- Secure during growth: Monitor for edge lifting, film tearing, weed growth along edges. Repair or re-anchor as needed.
- End of season removal: After crop cycle remove the film to pave room for cultivation in preparation of the next growing season.
- Reuse or replace: Some films may be reused depending on condition; many will be single use for one season especially if thin or heavily degraded.
Best practices for Proper Use of Mulch Papers
- Install the film when soil is prepared and dry enough, so film lies flat. Avoid windy or rainy days.
- Work carefully around planting holes so you don’t slip and tear the film.
- If you have long beds, you may want joints: ensure you overlap and seal seams.
- Keep the film safe from sharp objects, if it perforates water may evaporate underneath or weeds grow.
- After harvest, remove film fragments or old film so your soil remains healthy.
Using the film properly ensures you get the benefits you expect (weed suppression, moisture retention) rather than ending up with torn film, weed growth underneath, or have to replace mid-season.
Benefits of Mulching Papers
Why invest in mulching sheets? Here are the major benefits you’ll get — clearly and realistically.
Weed suppression
By covering the soil, you block sunlight and air from reaching weed seeds beneath. Many weeds cannot germinate or grow under film.
Moisture conservation
Your soil retains water better because film reduces direct sunlight, evaporation, and sometimes wind.
Soil temperature regulation
Black films warm the soil while white films moderate extremely high temperature. This can accelerate germination and early growth.
Improved crop yield & quality
Because moisture and temperature are better controlled and weeds are suppressed, your plants can allocate more energy to growth and production. For many crops that means higher yield or better quality.
Reduced labour and chemical cost
You spend less time weeding and possibly a lower cost for herbicides. You may also need less irrigation because of water savings. Over the season it translates into real savings.
Protect soil fertility
By covering soil you reduce erosion, maintain organic matter, reduce crusting, and protect soil life
Faster crop cycles
Because soil warms faster and grows more quickly, you might be able to plant earlier or harvest sooner. That means more cropping cycles or faster turnaround.
Where to Buy Quality Mulching Papers in Kenya
Aqua Hub Kenya Ltd
We stock quality mulching papers of 60- and 80-micron sizes at affordable prices ranging from KES 45 to KES 60 per square meter.
What to Consider when buying Mulching Papers
- Roll width and length
- Thickness (microns)
- UV resistance
- Colour
- Durability
- Installation Support
- Cost of the mulch paper
Case Study of a Farmer Using Mulching Papers in Their Farm
Mwangi, a farmer in Kiambu County, wanted to cut down the cost of weeding his ¾ acre of land which he planted tomatoes. He recounted how he had experienced lower yield and higher rate of tomato rot on the previous season due to inefficient weed control.
With the help of our team, Mr Mwangi decided to install a 60-micron black mulching paper to control weeds on his farm. After he had cultivated the land and prepared beds, we laid the mulching paper and punctured equal holes 30cm apart on the film for planting. We had to bury the paper 10cm on the edges of the planting beds to anchor it on the ground.
He reported that Weeding labour reduced by 90%. Soil moisture stayed higher during dry spells; tomatoes matured about 7 days earlier and the yield improved by about 30%.
The farmer also stated that although the film cost was significant, the reduction in labour and increase in yield covered the cost within one season.
Takeaways
- The cost for a moderately sized farm was significant high but matched with yield and labour savings.
- The thickness choice matters: 60 microns was a compromise between cost and durability for one-season use.
- Installation details (bed prep, anchoring, irrigation under film) makes a big difference in results.
- Monitoring and maintenance (edge anchoring, checking for rips) helps avoid performance issues.
- Considering reuse or replacement depending on condition is part of cost planning.
