Re: soil solarization?

SOIL SOLARIZATION
 
Solarization uses energy from the sun to heat the soil, causing physical, chemical and biological changes in the soil. The elevated temperature and toxic products generated kill or suppress plant pathogens and weed seed.
 
It is believed that beneficial organisms are harmed less by solarization than by fumigation.
 
The process is most effective in mid to late summer, when high air temperatures combine with high radiation from the sun.  Soil temperatures must range at least from 98°F to 126°F to kill diseases, insects, and weeds.  However, treatment can still be effective as late as September in some areas.
 
Solarization also stimulates release of nutrients from organic matter present in the soil. If you are going to add organic matter to the soil, add it before solarizing.
 
THE STEPS
 
1.  Till the soil as uniform as possible to prevent pockets of untreated soil.
 
2.  Remove all sticks, roots, and clumps.
 
3.  Water the soil deeply.  Don’t make it boggy wet.
 
Wet soil conducts heat better than dry soil and will allow the heat to move deeper in the soil to remove pathogens present in the root zone.
 
4. Cover the area with thin clear plastic (no more than 1 to 6 mils).  Thinner plastic allows better solarization.
 
Bury the edges of the plastic.  This prevents easy removal of the plastic before the soil has been adequately treated.
 
            If you want to do it really well, use a second layer of plastic 
            suspended by wire hoops or simply aluminum cans.  The air gap
            created between the two layers of plastic gives extra
            insulation.   Also, weeds that penetrate the first layer may then be
            killed by heat trapped between the layers.
 
5.  Leave the plastic on the soil for at least 6 weeks.
 
Do not remove the plastic until you are ready to plant.  The longer the process, the deeper the soil will be sterilized.
 
 Soil should be kept damp during this process.
 
-- A soaker hose may be left under the plastic for additional watering.
 
 
 
The biggest disadvantage to this method is that the area treated must be out of use for most of the summer growing season.
 
AFTERWARDS…
 
Don’t bring contaminated plants back into the area -- they’ll undo the effects of solarization.
 
And don’t mix adjacent soil with the treated soil.
 

Joe

N Sterman <TalkingPoints@PlantSoup.Com> wrote:
Recent discussions about growing meadow grasses has convinced me that
it is finally time to replace the lawn (hooray!). Anyone want to
weight in on the plusses and minuses of soil solarization?

Nan


Nan Sterman Plant Soup, Inc. TM
TalkingPoints@PlantSoup.Com
PO Box 231034
Encinitas, CA 92023






Joe Seals
Santa Maria, California --
where the weather is always perfect
and my NEW garden will soon be blooming and full of birds and butterflies
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