Soil solarisation: A cultural practice to reduce viability of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in New Zealand soils

Abstract

Soil solarisation reduced the viability of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum which were buried in the soil at a depth of 10 cm in three field trials (Lincoln 1997, 1998; Blenheim 1998). Solarisation for 8 weeks (Lincoln and Blenheim 1998) had a greater effect than for 4 weeks (Lincoln 1997). Sclerotial viabilities in solarised plots were reduced to 52% (Lincoln 1997), 8% (Lincoln 1998), and 0% (Blenheim 1998) compared to 95, 53, and 89% for non-solarised plots, respectively. Average maximum temperatures recorded for solarised plots over the trial periods ranged from 33 to 35°C, temperatures were c. 8–10°C lower in non-solarised plots. The potential for using soil solarisation to reduce levels of S. sclerotiorum sclerotia in New Zealand horticultural soil is discussed. © 1999 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.