Oregon Tilth Certified Organic Dandelion Tincture 30ml $10.19

tilth organic

Soil Solarisation – An Easy Way for Plant Protection

            Sun is considered as the greatest energy provider for each and every being on our earth, right from microbes to huge whales.   Absence of solar energy may make it is impossible for any organism to survive in this world.  Among the various types of living beings, only the green plants are capable for capturing this life-giving energy and convert it into a ready-for-use-form, which is available to all other creatures.  Besides assisting in the growth of plants, solar energy is also beneficial for protecting the plants from various diseases and pests.

                       Soil solarisation is a method adopted for the eradication of pathogens as well as pests.  This is mainly used for controlling soil borne microbes.  Diseases which could be managed successfully by this technique include soft rot of ginger, wilt of brinjal and tomato etc.  Moreover, this is effective for controlling soil borne nematodes and pests.  Weed seeds are inactivated so that their germination is arrested.  One special feature of this method is that this will not harm any of the beneficial organisms. On the other hand, their growth is promoted.  Solarisation can be practiced on the soil used for preparing nursery bed, potting mixture and also in the field directly. 

     Method of Soil Solarisation :

 The field is subjected to Soil solarisation one month before actual raising of the crop.  The land is tilled or dug well to a fine tilth and the weeds and clods are removed.  Organic manure like compost or farm yard manure is added and mixed well with the soil and irrigated thoroughly.  Afterwards the soil is covered with transparent polythene sheet of 100-150 gauge.  Care must be taken to place the sheet in close contact with the soil. This will help to maintain sufficient heat and moisture inside the sheet.  Retain the sheet in this condition for 20-30 days.  During this process, temperature of the soil beneath the sheet rises considerably and this leads to the destruction of microbes in the soil and prevents the further growth of weeds.  The sheet can be removed after 30 days.  Now, the soil is ready for sowing as well as cultivation of crops. 

     Points to be remembered during Soil Solarisation

• Select the area which receives sunlight directly
• Hot months are the best to conduct soil solarisation.  Duration of solarisation depends on the weather and crop.
• Polythene sheet should be transparent and of 100-150 gage thickness.  If too fine, it will get disintegrated easily.
• It is essential to retain the moisture content of the soil during solarisation.
• During solarisation, 30-40oC temperature must be maintained up to a depth of 10 cm.
• Do not practice solarisation on heaped soil especially for potting mixture.

    Merits of Soil Solarisation

• Complete eradication of soil pathogens
• Neutralises all the toxic principles present in the soil
• Strengthens the root system
• Enhances the growth and health of plants
• Modifies the physical and chemical properties of soil atmosphere and increases the availability of essential nutrients thereby improves the soil fertility
• Enhances the resistance of the soil against pests and diseases
• Improves the soil productivity

Can genetically modified crops be certified organic by the Oregon Tilth?

No but I believe the USDA organic program (which Oregon Tilth follows as the are a certifier for the USA) allows up to .5% contamination with the grain crops

Tilth Organic Cuisine

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