Changes in soil microbial populations after fumigation and alternative methods to control soil-borne diseases

Piotr Sobiczewski, Beata Meszka, Hanna Bryk, Eligio Malusá

Abstract: The study was carried out in 2010 – 2012 on three farms. Soils were disinfested by chemical fumigation, biofumigation and active steam. Chemical fumigation was carried out in autumn of 2010 and 2011 with two different rates of either dazomet, metam sodium or chloropicrin + 1,3D. Steam disinfection with addition of CaO, maintaining soil temperature of about 70 ºC for 2 h, or biofumigation with Brassica carinata seeds meal were performed in spring of 2011 and 2012 at two or one locations, respectively. Soil bacteria and fungi populations were assessed 4 weeks after the treatments. All chemical treatments and steam disinfection caused a significant decrease of the total number of fungi in comparison to control, while biofumigation induced an increase of total soil fungi. The total number of bacteria generally increased by the chemical fumigation with all tested products in all soils. The bacteria population was not changed or increased, depending on the season, by active steam treatment, whereas it was 3-fold decreased by biofumigation, in comparison to not disinfected soil. In conclusion, the applied disinfection techniques modified the populations of soil microorganisms irrespective of the characteristics of the soil.

Keywords: active steam; biofumigation; soil fumigation

Date published: 2017-07-26