[vetsinag] Today's Farm Tip: Using the Sun to Control Pests, Diseases, and Weeds

[Robyn Metzger]

Yesterday we announced the newly-published update of ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture<https://attra.ncat.org/>'s publication Strawberries: Organic Production<https://attra.ncat.org/product/strawberries-organic-production/>. In that publication, author and NCAT Agriculture Specialist Martin Guerena discusses soil solarization, anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), and biosolarization techniques for controlling insects, diseases, nematodes, and weeds in the field. Below is an excerpt briefly describing each method---perhaps one of these techniques could work for your fruit or vegetable production.

"The technique known as solarization consists of laying clear plastic mulch on moist soil. Heat is trapped under the
plastic, raising the soil’s temperature and killing or debilitating pests. Usually, this soil pasteurization process takes four to six
weeks, but the amount of time depends on many factors, such as rain, wind, day length, soil texture, and the quality of the
polyethylene mulch. Ultraviolet-protected plastic makes it possible to remove and re-use the mulch.

Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a biological process that occurs when saturated soils are tarped with an incorporated
organic-matter source. Microorganisms deplete the oxygen and convert carbon into fumigant-like toxins. The process of ASD
for strawberry production is as follows:
• Broadcast organic matter (compost, green waste, or pomace) or disk down a cover crop.
• Incorporate the organic matter into the soil.
• Form beds and lay down drip tape.
• Cover the beds with plastic mulch.
• Irrigate using the drip tape until soil is saturated.
• Wait two to six weeks (depends on climate, soil type, and if irrigation needs to be repeated to achieve anaerobic conditions).
• Punch holes in the plastic, let it air out, then plant.

Biosolarization combines solarization with anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), which only takes one week, compared to the four
to eight weeks for solarization and two to six weeks for ASD with black plastic. ASD creates temporary anaerobic conditions
in the soil that encourage anaerobic microorganisms that break down available carbon sources, producing organic acids,
aldehydes, alcohols, ammonia, metal ions, and volatile organic compounds that are toxic or suppressive to soil pests and
diseases (Momma, 2008; Dominguez et al., 2014; Huang et al., 2015; van Agtmaal et al., 2015; Achmon et al., 2017). Research
conducted in Spain and California has demonstrated that solarization has potential as a component in an IPM program for
root diseases in strawberry production (Hartz et al., 1993; Pinkerton et al., 2002; Dominguez et al., 2014)."

For more details on solarization and biosolarization, check the ATTRA tipsheet Soil Solarization and Biosolarization<https://attra.ncat.org/product/solarization-tipsheet/>. You can contact Martin and other ATTRA agriculture specialists by calling 800-346-9140 or emailing askanag at ncat.org.

You can also send questions to this listerv! Your fellow farmer-veterans and the service providers on this list are great sources of information and insight. Simply email vetsinag at lists.ncat.org.
Have a great week!

* * * * *
Best regards,
Robyn



Robyn Metzger

Program Specialist/Armed to Farm Coordinator

National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)

www.ncat.org/armedtofarm<http://www.ncat.org/armedtofarm>

www.attra.ncat.org<http://www.attra.ncat.org>

479-442-9824

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