PJB-2007-247
SOIL SOLARIZATION: A MANAGEMENT PRACTICE FOR MYCOTOXINS IN CORN
YASMIN AHMAD AND A. GHAFFAR*
Abstract
Strategies for the management of mycotoxins in corn using soil solarization alone and in combination with soil amendments (farm yard manure, chicken farm yard manure, neem leaves and biokhad) were developed at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan. Experiments with soil solarization showed a pronounced reduction in weed population soon after removal of the transparent polyethylene sheets. Solarization controlled weeds (98.5%), increased soil temperature by 11.5oC over non-solarized soil at 10 cm depth, reduced soil-borne pests, reduced ear rot diseases (72.5%), conserved moisture, increased the availability of essential nutrients in the soil and hence enhanced the growth of corn plants. Soil solarization was found an effective method in controlling ear rots. In treated plots, grain yield was more than double due to pathogen control, enhanced available nutrients in the soil as well as no competition with weeds. Soil solarization applied with transparent polyethylene film was found the most effective in reducing the incidence of corn ear rots and consequently reduced mycotoxins (fumonisins and aflatoxins) in fields and stored corn. We can avoid the hazardous/ poisonous effects of different chemicals on plant and animal life and thus, soil solarization technology could be used for the management of mycotoxins in food grains in future.
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