Soil Solarization, an alternative to soil fumigants Fact Sheet No. 0.505 Crop Series|Soils by Ramesh Pokharel* What is soil solarization for producers, especially organic growers, Quick Facts to treat infested soil and help control weeds Soil solarization, a hydrothermal process, because of the prevalent higher summer • Soil solarization at 99°F for occurs in moist soil when covered by plastic temperatures and more than 300 sunny days 2-4 weeks almost completely film and heated by exposure to sunlight in a year within the region. prevents the emergence of during the warm months. The process many annual weeds. changes physical, chemical, and biological properties and thereby improves soil health. Effect on soilborne • Efficacy of soil solarization It can be an alternative to soil fumigants pathogens for control of soilborne (agricultural chemicals that have significant Efficacy of soil solarization for control of pathogens and pests is environmental risk, a negative impact on soilborne pathogens and pests is a function of time and beneficial soil microorganisms, and that are a function of time and temperature temperature relationships. not user-friendly). relationships; for example, 2-4 weeks of • Solarization initially may exposure at 99°F (37°C) may be required reduce populations of to kill 90% of populations for most of beneficial microorganisms, Importance mesophylic fungi—an organism that grows Effective control of soilborne plant best in moderate temperatures, 77 and 104°F, but their populations quickly pathogens (plant parasitic nematodes, fungi, (25 and 40°C)—whereas only 1-6 hours recolonize solarized soil. some bacteria) and weed pests is a serious exposure at 117°F (47°C) may be required to • The addition of different challenge to farmers and home gardeners. get the same result. During soil solarization, types of organic matter to the Use of soil fumigants for pest control is temperatures commonly reach up to 95°F soil before soil solarization often undesirable due to their residual to 140°F (35-60°C) depending on soil type, increases efficacy of soil- toxicity in plants and soils, unfavorable season, location, soil depth and other factors. effects on humans and animals, complexity These high temperatures induce changes borne pathogen and weed of treatments, high cost of chemicals, and in soil volatile compounds that are toxic management control by soil increasing interest in and demand for organic to organisms already weakened by high solarization. agriculture. Soil solarization is a simple, temperature. Soil solarization is effective safe, and effective alternative to toxic, costly against fungal pathogens such as Verticillium soil fumigants and to the lengthy crop spp. (wilt), Fusarium spp. (several diseases), rotations needed to control many damaging and Phytophthora cinnamomi (Phytophthora soilborne pathogens and pests. In addition, root rot), and bacterial pathogens such this procedure may provide good weed as Streptomyces scabies (potato scab), control, improve soil tilth, and increase availability of essential plant nutrients. In Colorado, effective management strategies are lacking for common soilborne problems such as replant problems, Phytophthora and nematode diseases in fruit crops, damping off and wilt diseases in vegetables, and bacterial and fungal diseases in commercial crops like onion. Soil solarization may be a useful tool A weed mulcher is being used to lay plastic mulch for soil © Colorado State University solarization. Extension. 2/11. www.ext.colostate.edu *Ramesh Pokharel, Colorado State University, Western Colorado Research Center. 2/2011 Agrobacterium tumefaciens (crown gall), during the process of solarization. Thus, and Clavibacter michiganensis (tomato organic amendments augment the biocidal canker). It also reduces soil populations activity of the soil solarization. In addition, of different plant parasitic nematodes, organic and inorganic ammonia-based especially Meloidogyne spp. (root-knot) fertilizers applied to the soil and followed and Pratylenchus thornei (root lesion), by soil solarization may be effective against Pratylenchus (root lesion) and natural soil populations of the damping off Xiphinema (dagger) nematodes which are fungus (Pythium ultimum), Verticillium the most important ones for Colorado crop dahliae (in some cases), and root-knot growers. Soil solarization done at Western Colorado Research nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). Center - Orchard Mesa site. Note the clear plastic mulch, Organic soil amendments can protect a drip irrigation hose in the center underneath the plastic, soil microbial biomass and enzymatic Effect on weeds the well sealed mulch edges and fogging from water vapor on the underside of the plastic which indicates a good soil activities from the detrimental effect Soil solarization at 99°F (37°C) for solarization. of heating. Different plant residues or 2-4 weeks almost completely prevents manure incorporated into solarized soil the emergence of many annual weeds, Effect on plant nutrients may generate measurable amounts of especially at the top layer because In addition, the increased availability volatiles such as ammonia, methanethiol, temperature increases more slowly at of plant nutrients and the relative increase dimethyl sulfide, allylisothiocyanate, deeper depths. Soil solarization effectively in rhizosphere populations of favorable phenylisothiocyanate and aldehyde. controls broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) and bacteria, such as Bacillus spp. (which Many plants such as several Brassica many other weeds, but not Cuscuta species, contribute to the marked increase in the species produce such chemicals, including bindweed, or purple nutsedge. Efficacy of growth, development, and yield of plants isothiocyanates in their tissues in various soil solarization for weed control in the grown in solarized soil) are other major levels and forms including sulfur- field is increased by providing irrigation at components of soil solarization benefits. containing compounds. Soil amendments least 2-3 week prior to solarization, letting Soil solarization increases nitrogen, with plant and animal byproducts increased the weeds grow, and incorporating them calcium, and magnesium availability, temperature in soils beneath the plastic in soil before establishing the solarization in addition to extractable P and K. The mulch by as much as 9.3°C (to 37.3°C or treatment. increased availability of mineral nutrients 99.1°F) even in September-October in following soil solarization includes those Delta County. The temperature beneath Effect on beneficial tied up in the organic soil fraction (e.g., plastic mulch in green mustard amended soil reached 129.3°F (54°C) as compared microbes NH4-N, NO3-N, P, Ca, and Mg). An increase in soil nitrate nitrogen by more to 106.7°F (41.5°C) beneath the plastic Mild temperature increases during than 3000 kg/ha was obtained in our study mulch without mustard, and 78.8°F (26 soil solarization are more selective by adding chicken manure and growing °C) in non-mulched, bare soil in Western towards thermophilic and thermotolerant mustard and incorporation in soil before Colorado during the 3rd week of July 2010. (above 113°F or 45°C) biota, including soil solarization. Ultimately, these nutrients, actinomycetes. These may survive and even especially the nitrogen, will benefit crop Soil preparation flourish under soil solarization, but poor growth. soil competitors, such as many pathogens, Soil preparation should focus on are killed by soil solarization. Solarization creating a fine textured matrix with only initially may reduce populations of Addition of soil small soil particles and pores, to allow beneficial microorganisms (beneficial, amendments moist air to penetrate the soil particles and growth-promoting and pathogen- reach the place where soilborne pathogens Addition of different types of organic antagonistic bacteria and fungi), but their are located. The soil to be solarized must matter, e.g., animal manures and crop populations quickly recolonize solarized be loose and friable with no large clods or residues, to the soil before soil solarization soil. Plant-pathogenic fungi weakened by other debris on the soil surface. A rotary increases efficacy of soil-borne pathogen high soil temperatures are more susceptible hoe or rototiller will eliminate clods or and weed management control by soil to the antagonists. Nitrogen-fixing other debris that create air pockets that solarization. Organic matter addition Rhizobium bacteria are also sensitive to slow soil heating and keep the tarp from increases the rate of decomposition of these high soil temperatures, and reduction in fitting tightly over the soil surface. A clean, materials in the soil and thereby the rate root nodulation of legumes such as peas or flat surface will also prevent the accidental of heat generation during decomposition; beans in solarized soils is also temporary. puncturing of the thin plastic mulch by it also increases the heat-carrying capacity Applying inoculum to legumes planted in debris. of the soil. Volatile biotoxic compounds solarized soil may be beneficial. are released when organic matter is heated Soil moisture References The thermal decline of soil-borne organisms during solarization depends Pokharel R and R. Hammon. 2010. Increased efficacy of biofumigation by soil solarization and integrating with Brassica meal cake and poultry on soil moisture and on soil temperature manure to manage soil-borne problem in onion. Report Submitted to EPA, PESP program.