Sprayable polymer membrane for agriculture

A process for preparing a polymeric membrane for suppressing weed growth and restricting water loss in soil to be used in crop production, the process comprising providing a sprayable aqueous dispersion of ionic polyurethane and spraying the aqueous dispersion onto an area of soil to be used in crop production from seeds or pre-grown plants to form a polymeric membrane on the area of soil, wherein the aqueous dispersion of ionic polyurethane further comprises a thickening agent selected from the group consisting of gelatine, alginate, wood meal, xanthan gum, polyacrylamide (PAM) and cellulose in an amount in the range of from 1 to 20 weight % of the aqueous dispersion, wherein the aqueous dispersion is sprayed onto the area of soil (i) prior to the planting of seed in the area of soil or (ii) prior to planting of pre-grown plants in the area of soil or (iii) after planting of pre-grown plants in the area of soil and wherein the polymeric membrane is retained on the area of soil to suppress weed growth in the area of soil and to provide a barrier to loss of water from the area of soil.