Fuente: WIPO "tomato" A mulch may include a hydrophilic cellulose layer and hydrophobic top layer formed on the cellulose layer. The cellulose layer and top layer together may form a wettability gradient which facilitates directional water transport from the hydrophobic top layer to the hydrophilic cellulose layer. A surface of the hydrophobic top layer is optically opaque and exhibits a solar reflectance of 85% to 98% in response to incident light the 250-2500 nm wavelength range. The mulch provides a mid-infrared emissivity of 0.85 to 0.97 in the 8-13 μm range. The solar reflectance and mid-infrared emissivity decrease underlying soil temperature by at least 2° C. compared to uncovered soil under equivalent solar conditions.