
Soil Sterilization – A Must
Sterilization is a need or even a necessity, especially in greenhouses. But why?
Agriculture in greenhouses is intensive and confined to a specific environment exposed to stress due to the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers and the lack of diversity in the adopted crops to include specific types such as cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, and strawberries.
While sterilization with methyl bromide and other chemical pesticides was prohibited due to its proven damage to the environment, especially to groundwater and the ozone layer, it was necessary to resort to other alternatives to compensate for these essential substances.
Continuing the seventy-year journey towards better agriculture, it was necessary for Debanne Agri to set out on a new path in the soil Sterilization domain. Its destination was a selection of leading companies in the production of organic materials, including the Canadian company ATOMES.
Method One
Utilizing Organocid, which is a substance intended to eliminate fungal diseases and nematodes in the soil.
- Application: 25 liters for 1dunum
- 10 to 15 days before planting
Method Two
Complex and falls within the following context
NovoTreat
- At a rate of 2 liters per dunum
- 10-15 days before transplantation.
Velum Prime Immediately after planting
- At a rate of 65 ml per dunum
- 15 days after the first watering
Novotreat
- At a rate of 1 liter per dunum
- To be repeated for two consecutive months.
How can these products sterilize the soil?
Novotreat and Organocid contain many bacterial strains specialized in eliminating soil diseases and are composed of phosphate in addition to other nutrients.
Are these compounds capable of eliminating all of these pests without resorting to covering the soil with plastic?
They are. However, it is advised to use a plastic cover if the farmer has plenty of time (from 45 to 60 days). In fact, this method works as a support of the said materials by providing primed soil (if it is watered 10 to 15 days before planting and not at the beginning of the coverage period).
Thus, the results of sterilization are achieved, demolishing fungal diseases and nematodes with the potential to affect weed seeds as well.
As for Orobanche, its eradication has become available through the pesticide Titus, supplied by the International Company Corteva-DuPont.
Eng. Ibrahim Younes