IV. Integration With Other Pest Management Techniques

Solarization can be used in conjunction with other pest management techniques. Better results have been achieved by combining solarization with other methods such as using fumigants, hot water, organic amendments, host resistance, and biocontrol.

In some cases, reduced rates of chemical fumigants were used in conjunction with solarization. Reduced rates of dazomet or methyl-bromide + chloropicrin with solarization were effective in controlling clubroot of cauliflower (Porter et al., 1991), and Verticillium wilt was kept in check with solar heating and a low rate of methyl bromide (Tjamos et al., 1987; Cebolla et al., 1995). Even more interesting are study results showing that metam sodium combined so well with the solarization treatment that results were equivalent to those seen with methyl bromide (Hartz et al., 1993; McGovern et al., 1995). However, there are equally as many studies that show no benefit (for nematode control) of a combined effect over the use of solarization alone.

There is some evidence that adding heated water to the soil, either before or after solarization, helps to increase soil temperatures. Reductions in root galling of tomato by root-knot nematodes and Fusarium spp. populations have been noted (Abu-Gharbieh et al., 1991a), but effects are still weaker than those seen with methyl bromide (Noling, 1994). Of course, the delivery of large quantities of heated water to soil is problematic.

The performance solarization is dependent on the weather, since strong sunlight and warm temperatures are needed for good results. Soil amendments may increase the effectiveness of solarization in areas where the rainy season coincides with warmer months (Coelho, 1997; Coelho et al., 1999; Gamliel and Stapleton, 1993; Keinath, 1996; Ramirez-Villapudua and Munnecke, 1988). In some studies biofumigation, or the release of pesticidal compounds from plant material during decomposition, has added to the results of solarization (Coelho et al., 2001; Keinath, 1996; Ploeg and Stapleton, 2001). Residues of cruciferous plants have a high content of isothiocyanates and aldehydes, which may be toxic to certain soilborne microorganisms including nematodes, weeds, and pathogens. Incorporation of cabbage into the soil before solarization may enhance pathogen control and even increase growth and yield of certain crops, such as watermelon. Cabbage amendment was the most effective when combined with irrigation management (saturated soil) or crop rotation (Coelho et al., 2001; Keinath, 1996). In one greenhouse experiment, addition of broccoli leaves to the soil suppressed populations of root-knot nematodes (Ploeg and Stapleton, 2001).

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