STERILIZATION OF OUTDOOR SEEDBEDS
In many spheres of horticulture the use of chemical soil sterilants is well established. They are widely used for glasshouse crop production and, to a lesser extent, for vegetable crops in the open ground against a wide range of soil-borne pests and diseases. Comparatively recently they have been used on a field scale for the control of certain soil-borne virus vecting nematodes (eelworms) affecting strawberries and the "Specific Replant Disorder" of cherries and apples. This broad spectrum of activity has stimulated the interest of many nursery stock producers and, in the wake of increasing costs, seedling plant raisers are looking towards sterilants for an answer to problems associated with pest, disease and weed control, soil "sickness", and general growth improvement.
During recent years the materials which can be broadly termed soil sterilants have increased in number and some of the more representative types are described below.
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