Soil Disinfestation: From Soil Treatment to Soil and Plant Health

Abstract

This feature article tracks 100 years of soil disinfestation, from the goal of eradicating soilborne pathogens and pests to much milder approaches, aimed at establishing a healthier soil, by favoring or enhancing the beneficial soil microflora and introducing biological control agents. Restrictions on the use of many chemical fumigants is favoring the adoption of nonchemical strategies, from soilless cultivation to the use of physical or biological control measures, with more focus on maintaining soil microbial diversity, thus enhancing soil and plant health. Such approaches are described and discussed, with special focus on their integrated use.