Articles
EFFECT OF PHYSICAL NATURE OF SOIL AND HUMIDITY ON STEAM DISINFESTATION
Article number
698_34
Pages
257 – 262
Language
English
Abstract
Steam disinfestation is a technique adopted for high value crops.
Experiments were carried out in 4 soil types where 3 different sheet steaming procedures were tested in order to improve heat treatment efficiency with steam and to stimulate a more widespread adoption of this technique by growers.
The results demonstrate that heat propagates in soil with isothermal fronts, parallel with the soil surface, spreading mainly through conduction.
Moreover, the efficiency of heat diffusion in the soil depends on soil physical nature and moisture.
All these characteristics play a very important role affecting the time required to obtain an efficient disinfestation.
Data obtained in experimental and commercial greenhouses are discussed.
Experiments were carried out in 4 soil types where 3 different sheet steaming procedures were tested in order to improve heat treatment efficiency with steam and to stimulate a more widespread adoption of this technique by growers.
The results demonstrate that heat propagates in soil with isothermal fronts, parallel with the soil surface, spreading mainly through conduction.
Moreover, the efficiency of heat diffusion in the soil depends on soil physical nature and moisture.
All these characteristics play a very important role affecting the time required to obtain an efficient disinfestation.
Data obtained in experimental and commercial greenhouses are discussed.
Publication
Authors
G. Minuto, G. Gilardi, S. Kejji, M.L. Gullino, A. Garibaldi
Keywords
heat treatment, sheet steaming, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani
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