Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #350162
Research Project: Integrated Strategies for Managing Pests and Nutrients in Vegetable and Ornamental Production Systems

Location: Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research

Title: Anaerobic soil disinfestation: Nutrient cycling and potential environmental impact

Author
item DI GIOIA, FRANCESCO - University Of Florida
item Hong, Jason
item OZORES-HAMPTON, MONICA - University Of Florida
item ZHAO, XIN - University Of Florida
item WILSON, CHRIS - University Of Florida
item THOMAS, JOHN - University Of Florida
item LI, ZHOUNA - University Of Florida
item Pisani, Cristina
item GUO, HAICHAO - Noble Research Institute
item PAUDEL, BODH - University Of Florida
item Albano, Joseph
item BUTLER, DAVID - University Of Tennessee
item Rosskopf, Erin

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2018
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a pre-plant biological soil disinfestation technique proposed for the simultaneous control of soil-borne pathogens, nematodes, and weeds in several horticultural crops grown in conventional and organic systems. The technique consists of amending the soil with a labile carbon (C) source, tarping the soil with totally-impermeable film (TIF), and irrigating the soil to saturation. The rapid shift of redox potential stimulates the growth of anaerobic microorganisms and the anaerobic decomposition of the C source with the consequent production of metabolites (organic acids, aldehydes, alcohols, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds) results in the suppression of many soil-borne pathogens and pests. The temporary change of soil microbial population, redox potential and pH occurring during ASD may also have an impact on nutrient cycling, thereby affecting soil fertility, availability of nutrients for the crop, and potential loss of nutrients into the environment. Understanding the nutrient dynamics and the factors influencing the availability and/or loss of nutrients during and after ASD treatment is critical for the sustainable application of this technique on a large-scale. The objective of this work is to review the factors governing the nutrient cycling in relation to ASD treatment, discuss potential solutions to optimize the crop nutrient management and minimize the risks of nutrient loss, and identify future research priorities. While there are concerns about N2O emission and nutrient leaching, the results of previous studies and of on-going research activities conducted at multiple sites, suggest that the risks of nutrient loss are not higher than those associated with standard chemical soil fumigation practices. Instead, there is evidence that ASD has both short- and long-term effects on the soil fertility, and excluding some risks of phytotoxicity at transplanting, ASD has been demonstrated to have positive effects on soil quality, plant growth, and crop yield performances.