Soil-covering film, the use of a soil-covering film to protect crops against weeds, and a method for the protection of crops against weeds

Method for protecting crops (20) against weeds (30), characterised by that a soil-covering film (10), which contains an air and moisture-permeable sheet, preferably a nonwoven sheet, containing biodegradable and/or compostable fibres (12) and, optionally, binding material (14) is provided, where the binding force between the fibres reversibly weakens on the effect of moisture, and during the method:

• the soil-covering film (10) is laid out on surface of the soil (40);
• the seeds (22) of the crop (20) are placed on the soil-covering film (10);
• the soil-covering film (10) is kept moist until the seeds (22) located on the surface grow roots (24) and the roots (24) penetrate the soil-covering film (10);
• following this keeping the soil-covering film (10) continuously moist is suspended.