Using Microwave Soil Heating to Inhibit Invasive Species Seed Germination

Wilde, Mélissa De; Buisson, Élise; Yavercovski, Nicole; Willm, Loïc; Bieder, Livia; Mesléard, François

doi:10.1017/inp.2017.29

Cited by 20 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The effects of 915‐MHz microwave treatment of a soil to eradicate the seed bank of invasive species were investigated under four radiation conditions that combined power level and exposure time. The effectiveness of the four conditions chosen according to De Wilde et al (), related to the rates of seed germination of three invasive plant species, was confirmed here on Festuca rubra seed germination. More precisely, the 2 kW‐8 and 4 kW‐4 min conditions caused soil temperature to reach at least 80°C, leading to complete inhibition of Festuca seed germination, and were designated effective treatments.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Short‐term effect of 915‐MHz microwave treatments on soil physicochemical and biological properties

Maynaud

Baudoin

Bourillon

et al. 2019

European J Soil Science

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To control the soil seed bank of invasive plants with microwaves represents an alternative method to chemical treatments, but it could alter soil quality. Microwave effects were investigated on 17 soil physicochemical and biological properties. Four 915‐MHz microwave treatments combining power and duration of exposure were applied on alluvial soil from a grassland using Festuca seeds as an internal standard to evaluate the efficiency of sterilization. Two treatments, 2 kW‐8 and 4 kW‐4 min, completely inhibited Festuca seed germination and caused the soil temperature to reach at least 80°C. Conversely, the other treatments, 2 kW‐4 and 4 kW‐2 min, failed to affect seed germination while raising the temperature to 50–60°C. Microbial biomass, the density of culturable heterotrophic bacteria and fluorescent Pseudomonads as well as fluorescein di‐acetate hydrolysis decreased significantly by 2.7‐, 1.1‐, 1.4‐ and 5.1‐fold compared with the control, respectively, following the 2 kW‐8 and 4 kW‐4 min treatments. These treatments also increased dissolved organic carbon and inorganic phosphorus contents by 1.6‐ and 1.2‐fold, respectively. In contrast, nitrate increased only (about 140%) in the soils under the 2 kW‐4 and 4 kW‐2 min conditions. Furthermore, the growth of Medicago truncatula Gaertn. seedlings transplanted in microwave‐treated soils under the 2 kW‐8 and 4 kW‐4 min conditions was not impaired despite the reduction in total nitrogen and the microbial population and smaller numbers of nodules. These results suggest that soil seed bank sterilization by microwaves that is 100% effective alters soil microbial indicators more strongly than chemical treatments without compromising the early growth stages of transplanted Medicago plants. Highlights Effects of microwave seed sterilization on soil physicochemical and biological properties. Microbial properties were more sensitive than chemical ones. Microbial biomass, bacterial density, hydrolase activity and root nodulation were reduced. Soluble carbon, nitrate and phosphorus increased depending on treatment effectiveness.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Short‐term effect of 915‐MHz microwave treatments on soil physicochemical and biological properties

Maynaud

Baudoin

Bourillon

et al. 2019

European J Soil Science

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“…Seed susceptibility to microwave treatment is mainly attributed to the direct effect of heat transfer from the surrounding soil (Nelson ) and is entirely temperature‐dependent (Barker & Craker ). Studies have shown that soil microwave treatment can kill seeds of several species in the soil (Davis et al ; Barker & Craker ; Brodie et al ; De Wilde et al ). In our experiment, the drastic reduction of seedling emergences from a seed bank exposed to certain treatments confirms the effectiveness of soil microwave treatment in inhibiting the seedling emergence of a wide diversity of species (here, at least 31 species).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Soil microwave treatment could therefore decrease invasive species seedling emergence through a direct effect of heat on seeds, and in a second step, through modifications of soil properties and functioning. In the study of De Wilde et al (), heating effects on soil properties and biota could not be assessed because seedling emergence was not performed on treated soil. In the present study, the significant decrease in D. stramonium and S. gigantea percentages of seedling emergence after soil exposure to the 2kW4min and 4kW4min treatments is surprising, as the longest and highly effective treatment, 2kW8min, had no impact compared with the control.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Brodie () showed that microwave treatment commonly leads to the nonhomogeneous heating of exposed materials: temperatures at the edges of the exposed object are several degrees lower than in the center (output power 750 W, after 150 seconds of heating). De Wilde et al () found seeds located at 12 cm depth more affected by microwave treatment than those at 2 cm depth. However, the question remains of whether seeds located at the surface (0–0.5 cm from the edges) of treated samples might be subjected to lower, nonlethal temperatures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among our set of studies, the first one was conducted to define the most effective microwave treatment pairing of Power × Duration to inhibit seedling emergence of three invasive species in Europe ( Datura stramonium , Reynoutria × bohemica , and Solidago gigantea ) depending on soil moisture (10, 13, 20%) and seed burial depth (2, 12 cm) (De Wilde et al ). Treatments requiring relatively high power and duration were the most effective (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microwave soil heating reduces seedling emergence of a wide range of species including invasives

Hess

Wilde

Yavercovski

et al. 2018

Restoration Ecology

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A microwave‐based process to control invasive species (seeds and adult stages) in the field prior to plant community restoration is currently under development. We investigated the effect of four microwave treatment pairings of Power × Duration (2kW4min, 4kW2min, 2kW8min, and 4kW4min) on seedling emergence of (1) an abandoned field seed bank used as a model for various plant species and (2) seeds of three species invasive in Europe: Datura stramonium (Jimson weed), Reynoutria × bohemica (Bohemian knotweed), and Solidago gigantea (Giant goldenrod). In addition, we assessed whether nontreated seeds of these three invasive species could germinate on microwave‐treated soils. As microwave soil heating usually leads to nonhomogeneous temperatures within a sample, we also assessed whether the position of seeds in the soil during microwave treatment (center vs. edges) impacted seedling emergence. Results show that the most intensive microwave treatments (2kW8min and 4kW4min), enabling the soil to reach 85°C, are highly effective in inhibiting seedling emergence of invasive species and the seed bank. The 2kW8min treatment, combining lowest power and longest exposure, is the most effective, reducing seed bank seedling emergence by 98% compared to control. The results also reveal a species‐specific response to heat, and lower microwave effectiveness on seeds located at the soil surface, which may explain the incomplete effectiveness of intensive treatments. Our results also suggest that prior microwave soil treatment does not prevent a considerable proportion of newly arrived invasive species seeds from germinating, suggesting that this method should be followed by restoration of native plant cover.

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Rain‐based soil solarization for reducing the persistent seed banks of invasive plants in natural ecosystems – Acacia saligna as a model

Cohen

Bar

Gamliel

et al. 2019

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND: A large persistent seed bank of invasive plants is a significant obstacle to restoration programs. Soil solarization was demonstrated to be an effective method for reducing the seed bank of Australian acacias. However, use of this method in natural habitats might be limited due to the requirement to moisten the soil by irrigation. This study examined the possibility of replacing irrigation by trapping the soil moisture caused by the most recent rainfall, i.e. rain-based soil solarization (RBS). RESULTS: Exposure ofAcacia saligna seeds to 57 ∘ C at 20% soil moisture for 68 h resulted in almost complete loss of seed viability. Similarly, RBS treatment significantly reduced the viability of A. saligna seeds buried at a soil depth of 1-19 cm as well as seed density in the natural seed bank, and almost completely eliminated seedling emergence from natural seed banks of A. saligna and other environmental weeds.CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that RBS is an effective method for reducing the seed bank of invasive plants in natural habitats located in various climate regions characterized by different soil types. This is the first demonstration of a successful application of RBS for soil disinfestation.

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Using Microwave Soil Heating to Inhibit Invasive Species Seed Germination

Cited by 20 publications

References 30 publications

Short‐term effect of 915‐MHz microwave treatments on soil physicochemical and biological properties

Short‐term effect of 915‐MHz microwave treatments on soil physicochemical and biological properties

Microwave soil heating reduces seedling emergence of a wide range of species including invasives

Rain‐based soil solarization for reducing the persistent seed banks of invasive plants in natural ecosystems – Acacia saligna as a model

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