PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive mulching material having good workability and capable of increasing yield of crops while considering preservation of the global environment. SOLUTION: The mulching material used for mulching for agriculture is constituted of a sintered material of vermiculite containing MgO and Fe2O3in a weight ratio of 2:1 to 12:1. In this case, average particle size of the sintered material of vermiculite is kept in the range within 1 to 3 mm. The mulching material is used so as to cover foots of seedlings planted in soil to which agrochemical disinfection or hot water disinfection is applied or soil, etc., after culturing leaf vegetables. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
