Аннотация:Abstract—When applying mulch to a soil surface in a decorative manner, it is possible to leave small “pockets”
or unmulched zones. The capillary-sorption pressure of the soil moisture of the superficial layers in such
“pockets” directly in contact with mulched areas decreases more rapidly than that of those covered with
mulch as a result of more intense surface evaporation. Thus, horizontal moisture fluxes are formed that bring
moisture to drier zones and provide the soil of small unmulched zones with additional moisture.
Keywords: mulching, fir litter, sod-podzolic soil, capillary-sorption pressure of soil moisture, preferential
flows of moisture.