Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
Shivam A Purohit, Harsh S Hathi and Deep N Oza

Abstract:
Soil solarization is a non-chemical environment friendly method which has beneficial effects in horticultural crop production. It is commercially use in area with very high temperature of air mainly in summer season, where much of the crop production area kept fallow because of excessive heat. Solarization of soil is mainly dependent on high levels of solar energy, as influenced by both climate and weather. Reviewing the information that is currently available on soil solarization reveals the many benefits of the method in relation to the production of horticultural crops. Soil solarization has been reported to manage lots of weed species, control soil borne insects and diseases, manage nematodes. Soil solarization also increase thermo tolerant micro fauna in the soil, which includes beneficial microorganisms, nutrient solubilizers, and nitrifiers and thus results in higher availability of required plant nutrient and improvement in soil tilth. Method of soil solarization in controlling soil borne is well demonstrated. In the case of potatoes, soil solarization is also known to improve tuber quality and increase potato yield by lowering the number of weeds and soil borne diseases.