ABSTRACT
Solarized soils undergo changes in their temperature and moisture regimes, the inorganic and organic composition of their solid, liquid, and gaseous phases, and their physical structure, all of which in turn affect the biotic components. Soil solarization as a practice for management of soil-borne plant pathogens has been demonstrated in several cases. Controlled burning may alter the environment and affect plant disease response, providing both a temperature effect and a means of destroying the pathogen. Flooding fields and orchards to reduce or eliminate soil-borne inoculum of plant pathogens is an ancient practice. Hot-air treatment is less injurious to seed and easy to operate but also less effective than hot water. It has been used against several diseases of sugarcane. Solar heating method for disease control is similar, in principle, to that of artificial soil heating by steam or other means, which is usually carried out at 60 to 100°C.
