Eco-Friendly Mulching Solutions from Recycled Textile Waste

The chapter “Eco-Friendly Mulching Solutions from Recycled Textile Waste” explores the development of sustainable agro-textile materials using recycled textile fibres for agricultural applications. The study focuses on transforming cotton and wool textile waste into needle-punched nonwoven composites that can be used as mulch mats for crop cultivation, particularly for tomato and chilli farms in Nashik. Through field trials and laboratory testing, the research evaluates the developed composites based on properties such as UV blocking capacity, moisture retention, biodegradability, and their impact on soil nutrients. The results demonstrate that the recycled textile composites, especially the 50:50 cotton–wool blend and 100% cotton waste composite, show promising performance as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional polypropylene and plastic mulch films. These biodegradable materials not only reduce environmental pollution caused by synthetic agro-textiles but also contribute to improving soil quality and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.