ISHS Acta Horticulturae 255: III International Symposium on Soil Desinfestation
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TYPE OF POLYETHYLENE SHEET ON SOIL SOLARIZATION |
| Authors: | N.E. Malathrakis, M.D. Loulakis |
| Abstract:
To improve the effectiveness of soil solarization (SS) two experiments were conducted in plastic greenhouses. In the first a low density polyethylene sheet (LDPE), Walloplast, Thermoplast and Saranex 11, were evaluated for their effectiveness in SS. In the second the above LDPE and Saranex 11, alone and in combination with methyl bromide (MB) at the rates of 12, 24 and 48 g/m2, were tested for their effectiveness in SS. Greenhouse soil was naturally infested by a fungus of the genus Acremonium Link ex Fr., which causes root rot and vascular browning of cucumber during the winter. Also sclerotia of Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. were placed in the soil at a depth of 5, 15 and 20 cm. Data obtained indicate that all polyethylene sheets (PS) tested in SS, alone and in combination with MB, are effective against sclerotia of S. rolfsii placed at 15 cm, but their effectiveness against sclerotia placed at 5 and 20 cm is not consistent. Among the PS tested in the first experiment only Saranex 11 significantly reduces cucumber root rot and vascular browning caused by Acremonium sp. Yield is not affected. SS plus MB is more effective against weeds and vascular browning, when Saranex is used, than when a LDPE is used. There are no differences between them on cucumber root rot and on yield. MB, in combination with SS, is effective against the infection of cucumber by Acremonium sp. when used at the rate of 24 and 48 g/m2. Bromide residues, in the soil and in the fruits, increase as MB rates increase. Bromide residues are higher when Saranex 11 is used for soil solarization as compared to LDPE. | |
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