High Temperature Solarization Rids Soil of Pests

 
To avoid pests that attack young seedlings or transplants, clean soil is particularly important for nurseries and for container production of plants, as well as for home gardeners. Until recently, chemical treatments, expensive steam generators or purchase of treated potting mixtures were the only ways of obtaining soil free of debilitating plant pests.

 

 
High temperature soil solarization, using passive solar energy to disinfest soil, has been developed by a group of UC researchers and students at the Kearney Agricultural Center. The group, representing the Statewide IPM Program, UC Riverside and UC Davis, found that in warm summer weather, containers of soil can be heated by a plastic “double-tent” technique to 140-158 degrees Farenheit or higher. The result is rapid elimination of nematode, weed and fungus plant pests without chemical treatments or expensive steam generation systems. Data supporting the technique were submitted to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) for consideration as an officially-approved nematicidal treatment for commercial nursery use.
 

 
In 2001, the “double-tent” solarization treatment (soil exposure at 140 degrees F for 30 minutes or 158 degrees F for 60 minutes) was approved by CDFA to ensure against nematode infestation of containerized stock in commercial nurseries. In addition, this inexpensive technique can be easily used by home gardeners and organic producers in warmer areas who wish to produce their own pest-free container or potting soil, without chemical or expensive steam treatment.
 

Supporting Unit: Statewide IPM Program, UC Riverside, UC Davis, and Kearney Agricultural Center
 
Dr. James J. Stapleton
Statewide IPM Project, Kearney Agricultural Center
9240 S. Riverbend Avenue, Parlier, CA
(559) 646-6536 (Voice) jim@uckac.edu