Abstract
The effect of soil solarization on physical, chemical and biological properties of soil was studied, along with the response of cauliflower seedlings following solarization. Nursery beds were covered with transparent polyethylene sheet and soil temperature and moisture were recorded. Soil samples were collected five times for analysis. Three cauliflower nurseries were raised at 30-day intervals; germination was recorded 10 days after sowing and seedling length 30 days after sowing. The maximum temperature in solarized soil ranged from 40.2–47.2°C, with an increase of 5.2° to 9.9°C over non-solarized soil. There was a conservation of 5.48% moisture in solarized soil as compared with non-solarized. Solarization significantly increased electrical conductivity, organic carbon, nitrogen and potassium over pre-solarized soil. The mean pH, EC, Ca, Mg, N, P, K and C recorded in solarized soil was higher than in non-solarized. Soil solarization reduced the population of fungi from 25.68 x 104 to 4.8 x 104, bacteria from 20.28 x 106 to 5.66 x 106, actinomycetes from 31.60 x 105 to 4.40 x 105, and reduction in population was recorded even after 90 days, when compared with non-solarized soil. Solarization effectively reduced (>97%) population of plant parasitic and free living nematodes. Cauliflower seedlings in solarized soil had a better vigor index than non-solarized soil. Present findings reveal that soil solarization could be exploited for nutrient management and soilborne pests control, with a better vigor index of vegetable nursery.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ashrafi, S. J., Rastegar, M. F., & Saremi, H. (2010). Rosemary wilting disease and its management by soil solarization technique in Iran. African Journal of Biotechnology, 9, 7048–7057.
Barbercheck, M. E., & Broembsen, S. L. (1986). Effects of soil solarization on plant-parasitic nematodes and Phytophthora cinnamomi in South Africa. Plant Disease, 70, 945–950.
Bremner, J. M., & Mulvaney, C. S. (1982). Nitrogen- total. In: R. H. Miller & D. R. Keeney (Eds.) Methods of soil analysis, Part 2, Chemical and microbiological properties (2nd ed.). Madison, WI, USA: American Society of Agronomy, Inc.
Chaube, H. S., & Singh, U. S. (1991). Plant disease management, principles and practices. Boca Raton, FL, USA: CRC Press.
Chauhan, Y. S., Nene, Y. L., Johansen, C., Haware, M. P., Saxena, N. P., Singh, S., et al. (1988). Effect of soil solarization on pigeonpea and chickpea. Research Bulletin-ICRISAT, 11, 16.
Elmore, C. L., Stapleton, J. J., Bell, C. E., & Devay, J. E. (1997). Soil solarization: A nonpesticidal method for controlling diseases, nematodes and weeds. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 21377.
Gamliel, A., & Katan, J. (1991). Involvement of fluorescent pseudomonads and other microorganisms in increased growth response of plants in solarized soils. Phytopathology, 81, 494–502.
Gelsomino, A., & Cacco, G. (2006). Compositional shifts of bacterial groups in a solarized and amended soil as determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 38, 91–102.
Ioannou, N. (1999). Management of soil-borne pathogens of tomato with soil solarization. Technical Bulletin Cyprus Agricultural Research Institute, 205, 9.
Kamra, A., & Gaur, H. S. (1998). Control of nematodes, fungi and weeds in nursery beds by soil solarization. International Journal of Nematology, 8, 46–52.
Katan, J. (1987). Soil solarization (pp. 77-105). In: I. Chet (Ed.), Innovative approaches to plant disease control. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons.
Katan, J. (1995). Soil solarization: A non-chemical tool in plant protection. Journal of Mycology and Plant Pathology, 25, 46–47 (abstr.).
Knudsen, D., Peterson, G. A., & Pratt, P. F. (1982). Lithium, sodium and potassium. In: R. H. Miller & D. R. Keeney (Eds.) Methods of soil analysis, Part 2, Chemical and microbiological properties. Madison, WI, USA: American Society of Agronomy, Inc.
Lazarovits, G., Hawke, M. A., Tomlin, A. D., Olthof, T. H. A., & Squire, S. (1991). Soil solarization to control Verticillium dahliae and Pratylenchus penetrans on potatoes in central Ontario. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 13, 116–123.
Le Bihan, B., Soulas, M. L., Camporota, P., Salerno, M. I., & Perrin, R. (1997). Evaluation of soil solar heating for control of damping-off fungi in two forest nurseries in France. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 25, 189–195.
Matheron, M. E., & Porchas, M. (2010). Evaluation of soil solarization and flooding as management tools for Fusarium wilt of lettuce. Plant Disease, 94, 1323–1328.
Metson, A. J. (1961). Methods of chemical analysis for soil survey samples. New Zealand, DSIR, Soil Bureau Bulletin, 12. Wellington, New Zealand: Government Printer.
NHB. (2011). Indian horticulture database. National Horticultural Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.
Olsen, S. R., & Sommers, L. E. (1982). Phosphorus. In: R. H. Miller & D. R. Keeney (Eds.) Methods of soil analysis, Part 2, Chemical and microbiological properties. Madison, WI, USA: American Society of Agronomy.
Orchard, T. (1977). Estimating the parameters of plant seedling emergence. Seed Science Technology, 5, 61–69.
Overman, A. J., & Jones, J. P. (1986). Soil solarization, reaction and fumigation effects on double cropped tomato under full bed mulch. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 99, 315–318.
Raj, H., Bharadwaj, M. L., & Sharma, N. K. (1997). Soil solarization for the control of damping-off of different vegetable crops in nursery. Indian Phytopathology, 50, 524–528.
Raj, H., & Kapoor, I. J. (1993). Soil solarization for the control of tomato wilt pathogen (Fusarium oxysporum Schl.). Zeitschrift für Pflanzenkrankheiten und Pflanzenschutz, 100, 652–661.
Rao, V. K., & Krishnappa, K. (1995). Soil solarization for the control of soil-borne pathogen complex with special reference to Meloidogyne incognita and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri. Indian Phytopathology, 48, 300–303.
Schnitzer, M. (1982). Organic matter characterization. In: R. H. Miller & D. R. Keeney (Eds.) Methods of soil analysis, Part 2, Chemical and microbiological properties. Madison, WI, USA: American Society of Agronomy.
Sharma, M., & Sharma, S. K. (2002a). Effect of organic amendments on soil microbial population in relation to Dematophora necatrix causing white root rot of apple. Plant Disease Research, 17, 9–15.
Sharma, M., & Sharma, S. K. (2002b). Effect of soil solarization on soil microflora with special reference to Dematophora necatrix in apple nurseries. Indian Phytopathology, 55, 158–162.
Sofi, T. A., Tewari, A. K., Ganai, N. A., & Ahangar, F. A. (2009). Soil solarization integrated with eco-friendly practices to manage cauliflower damping-off and seedling vigour. Journal of Mycology and Plant Pathology, 39, 252–256.
Stapleton, J. J., Bert, L., & Devay, J. E. (1987). Effect of combining soil solarization with certain nematicides on target and non-target organisms and plant growth. Annual Applied Nematology, 1, 107–112.
Stapleton, J. J., Quick, J., & Devay, J. E. (1985). Soil solarization: effects on soil properties, crop fertilization and plant growth. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 17, 369–373.
Tjamos, E. C., & Paplomatas, E. J. (1988). Long-term effect of soil solarization in controlling Verticillium wilt of globe artichokes in Greece. Plant Pathology, 37, 507–515.
Wadi, J. A. (1999). Effect of soil solarization on some soil microorganisms and tomato growth. Egyptian Journal of Horticulture, 26, 167–176.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sofi, T.A., Tewari, A.K., Razdan, V.K. et al. Long term effect of soil solarization on soil properties and cauliflower vigor. Phytoparasitica 42, 1–11 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-013-0331-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-013-0331-z