The Effect of Solarization on Ecosystem Function

Agriculture uses solarization, or heating with the sun's energy, as a natural fumigator and to improve soil conditions and plant production. Effects on ecosystems have been a friendlier method of controlling plant disease and removing soil pests, and an alternative to chemical treatments, most commonly methyl bromide. Solarization involves covering the soil with clear or black plastic sheets during hot seasons to take advantage of the natural solar heat distribution from the sun.

Greenhouse Production

• The oldest know source of solarization is greenhouse gardening and agriculture, especially in regions where the crops are grown under controlled conditions with imitation light sources. The greenhouse solarization method provides insulation with an air chamber above the solarized soil for added heat. Solarization works with organic crops, requiring no pesticides to meet acceptable ecosystem standards. Seasonal crops can be cultivated in greenhouses during all seasons without consideration to weather conditions.

Nursery Production

• Containerized nursery productions use solarization as a method of eradicating pests, which is similar to the greenhouse method. Solarization of soil must be at a minimum of 158 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 minutes. The method was approved by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in 1999 for roundworm-free production of container-grown nursery stock. Black plastic instead of clear is used for trees, reducing the humidity and controlling verticillium fungus wilt without damaging the trees.

Open Field Production

• Solarization was discovered in the cultivation of row crop production and spread to other agriculture areas. Warming climates got the best results when solarizing fields, completely covering or planting beds with plastic. It was modified to manage weeds, disease and fungus before or during establishing or replanting orchard and vineyard crops. Citrus production has been especially effective in producing higher quality fruits using solarization.Conservation of water with soil moisture being infused using irrigation reduces the demand on ecosystems.

Limitations

• Solarization works to improve soil conditions, protect agriculture plants and produce better-quality produce, but there are limitations. Solarization requires changes in field-planting schedules. Altering field plantings is necessary, because the fields will be out of production while undergoing solarization treatments, which last for three to six weeks.

  Solarization also is limited by weather and other conditions. It works best when eliminating pests that are close to soil surfaces and in climates with higher temperatures and longer days.