EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SOIL DISINFECTION TREATMENTS ON EDAPHIC PROPERTIES

Abstract

In the Gran La Plata region, around 4,600 ha of agricultural crops are grown undercover on Typic Hapludert and Vertic Argiudol soils, characterized by poor drainage because of their high content of expandable clay. The characteristics of the soils, together with the quality of irrigation water and intensive management lead to physical, chemical and biological degradation associated with the presence of abundant pathogens (diseases and nematodes). Therefore, it is one of the most important challenges to find alternatives for soil disinfection that can be adapted to this type of production system, prevent contamination or degradation of resources, and promote soil improvement. This study evaluated the effect of different soil disinfection treatments on the soil properties (pH, EC, MO, RAS, Ca, Mg) and crop yield. The treatments tested were: solarization, biosolarization with chicken manure (50 t ha-1), biosolarization with mushroom residues (100 t ha-1), biosolarization with cabbage residues (80 t ha-1), chemical disinfection and a control. The experiment was conducted during two seasons (2014 and 2015) of a tomato crop. It was observed that biosolarization with chicken manure and mushroom residues increased salinity levels and concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+, without a significant improvement in OM levels. Biosolarization with cabbage residues did not affect the soil variables. Solarization and chemical disinfection treatments behaved similarly to the control. Regarding crop yield, chemical disinfection presented the highest values. No significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between the rest of the treatments.