Use of different plastics for soil solarization in strawberry growth and time–temperature relationships for the control of Macrophomina phaseolina and weeds

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of soil solarization on soilborne diseases, weeds and plant yields by using polyethylene film (30-μm-thick) containing different additives [ultraviolet (UV), ultraviolet + infrared (UV + IR), ultraviolet + infrared + anti-fog + anti-dust (UV + IR + AF + AD)], and used polyethylene film (260-μm-thick). Trials were conducted in commercial strawberry (Fragaria ananassa cv. 'Camarosa') fields in the town of Sultanhisar in Aydin province, Turkey, between 2007 and 2009. The highest soil temperatures at the depth of 10 cm under a polyethylene sheet containing UV + IR + AF + AD were 54°C in 2007 and 50.7°C in 2008. During the 2007 growing season, collapse and death of strawberry plants were not detected. At the end of the 2008 season (May-June), collapsed and dying strawberry plants were observed. Pure cultures of Macrophomina phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani were isolated from affected roots and crowns of plants. Viability studies of M.phaseolina were conducted under various field conditions and temperatures and M. phaseolina sclerotia survived more than 18 days at 45°C. There was a sharp decline in M. phaseolina at 50°C, where it survived for 19 h but was completely killed at 20 h. It first lost viability after 17 h at 50°C and after 60 min at 55°C. In the field, solarization did not reduce the viability of M. phaseolina at a soil depth of 10 or 20 cm; however, a significant reduction (66%) in survival was determined at a soil depth of 5 cm. All treatments controlled Portulaca oleracea, Amaranthus spp., Digitaria sanguinalis, Echinochloa crus-galli, Veronica hederifolia, Raphanus raphanistrum, Setaria verticillata and Mercurialis annua at a rate of 100%, but no treatment was effective on Cyperus rotundus. The marketable fruit yield was 38,004 kg.ha −1 for UV + IR, 35,834 kg.ha −1 for UV-added polyethylene film and 35,368 kg.ha −1 for used polyethylene sheetcovered plots, whereas it was 27,365 kg.ha −1 for untreated control plots.

Plant disease management in organic farming systems

“…However, they may survive solarization in deeper soil layers (40 cm). Most plant‐pathogenic fungi and bacteria are quite sensitive (45–55 °C), except for heat‐tolerant species (55–65 °C) . Most plant viruses are inactivated in the range 55–70 °C, and most weed seeds are killed between 50 and 60 °C, but again there are some exceptions …”

“…Most plant-pathogenic fungi and bacteria are quite sensitive (45-55 ∘ C), except for heat-tolerant species (55-65 ∘ C). 34,36,37 Most plant viruses are inactivated in the range 55-70 ∘ C, and most weed seeds are killed between 50 and 60 ∘ C, but again there are some exceptions. 38 Soil solarization is frequently used by organic growers in Israel ( Fig.…”

Assessment of tomato and wine processing solid wastes as soil amendments for biosolarization

“…During solarization, moist soil is covered with transparent plastic tarp to induce passive solar heating of the soil and thermal inactivation of pests. Solarization has been successfully implemented in strawberry cultivation (Yildiz et al, 2010) and in smaller farming operations (Stapleton et al, 2005). Hurdles preventing widespread use of solarization include a strict scheduling requirement to coincide with the warmest period of the year and the variable efficacy of inactivation (Stapleton, 2000).…”

Trials Evaluating Solarization and Tarping for Improved Stale Seedbed Preparation in the Northeast USA

“…We lacked the resources to quantify optical characteristics of the polyethylene used in these experiments. However, studies comparing the use of new and previously used polyethylene for solarization suggest that previously used polyethylene can work as well or better than new [46,49], so we do not necessarily expect that efficacy was diminished. Specialized solarization films [50] or modifications such as the use of bubble film for solarization [51] could perhaps improve efficacy, though the increased soil heating from the use of specialized films does not always translate to improved weed control outcomes [46,52].…”

“…Our decision to employ previously used greenhouse plastic in these experiments may have impacted results. There is a considerable body of research characterizing the effects of plastic optical properties on soil heating [39], and specialized mulches designed to optimize efficacy have been tested [46][47][48]. We lacked the resources to quantify optical characteristics of the polyethylene used in these experiments.…”