The effects of soil sterilisation with steam-air mixtures on the development of some glasshouse crops

Summary

The undesirable side effects in lettuce crops grown on soils sterilised at 100°C, do not occur on soils sterilised with steam-air mixtures at 70°C. Both in pot experiments and in field trials, significantly higher yields were obtained on soil sterilised at 70°C than on soil sterilised at 100°C. In the pot experiments the average head weight of lettuce obtained from eight soil types was about 20% greater on the soil heated to 70°C than on the soil heated to 100°C. A similar increase in yield was found in the field trials conducted over two years. Apart from increased weight, lettuce grown on soil sterilised at 70°C was of significantly better quality with improved shape of head and showing less susceptibility to tipburn and marginal leaf scorch.

In the field experiments mentioned tomatoes followed the lettuce crops. The reaction of cucumbers to soil sterilisation at different temperatures was investigated in another field experiment. No significant differences in yield resulting from the treatments were found in tomatoes and cucumbers.

The manganese content of the crops grown on soil sterilised at 100°C was usually considerably higher than on soil sterilised at 70°C. This was the case particularly with lettuce which showed some very great differences on some soil types.