Stockless organic farms, which cultivate alfalfa for natural N fertilization but cannot utilize the alfalfa biomass for fodder, may use the chopped material as mulch in young maize, sunflower, pumpkin or potato crops. For that, alfalfa is harvested in mid-June by forage harvester, blown onto a compost spreader driving alongside and applied to a young root crop at rates of 70-140 m³/ha.

Transfer mulch was tested in the eastern part of Austria with Pannonian climate with long dry periods and occasional heavy rains. Ten days after the application of the 140 m³/ha rate, measured soil water content was 1 % higher than on plots without mulch, which is the equivalent of 6 mm of precipitation. Transfer mulch in root crops is an important protection against evaporation, especially on hot days in early summer when the rows are not yet closed. At the same time, the mulch provides important soil protection during heavy rain events, in order not to lose the precious topsoil in root crops.

A fertiliser effect on the mulched crop in the same year was not detectable. The nutrient effect (not only of nitrogen!) and humus effect of mulch must be considered in the long term.

In order to transfer 1,000 kg of carbon to the receiving field, a total of 203 kg of CO₂ equivalent (CO2e) emissions were created by the machinery and transport processes.

Calculated for an 100 kg import of nitrogen with transfer mulch, the cost of € 569 was € 130 less than 100 kg N in the form of commercial organic fertiliser.