FarmI wrote
David Hare-Scott wrote
Rod Speed wrote
FarmI wrote
Jeßus wrote
Jeßus wrote

Based on past experiences, I tend to agree with the lady author you know.

Hard to put into words why - perhaps it just 'beds down' better
compared to the stiffer, fresher/bulkier material and so forms a
more effective covering, whilst at the same time providing some
organic material, bacteria etc. to the soil more quickly?

Is what you you are using straw of hay? The two are not the
same, they come form different sources, have different content
and behave differently.

Hmm...

Well, So far I've been using a random mixture of small quantities
of straw/hay since moving here rather than a consistent type of
hay or straw from a regular source. I'll be ordering a large
amount pretty soon though.

I *have* recently used a few bales of fresh 'oat straw', which
I've found is good to protect freshly transplanted plants
(especially sensitive young seedlings) from the sun and wind.

All seedlings will do better with some mulch rather than none.

Thats very arguable if you dont care about the water use.

I don't want to argue for the sake of it but even if you have an
infinite supply of cheap water you cannot always be there to apply
it and timers do not adapt to weather conditions unless you have a
very sophisticated setup with moisture sensors. Mulch will help
retain moisture and cool the soil, both are useful, without attention. Also as mulch degrades it feeds the soil and
improves its texture.

I think where I live the application of fine mulch to seedlings would be that it evens out the soil temps as we can
get stinking hot days followed by cold night and seedlings aren't too fond of wide swings in temp.

Thats nothing like your original ALL SEEDLINGS WILL DO BETTER.

The other thing I find is exactly as you say - moisture is available to the seedlings without the feast or famine that
happens with no mulch.

Not necessarily with automated watering.

I use chaff or rice hulls on seedlings as the Choughs don't throw it around but the rice hulls don't break down as
readily as chaff.