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Last edited: 5 October 2024
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Among other non-cooking uses for solar cookers, is their use for soil enrichment and sterilization for better gardening results, without the need for pesticides and herbicides. Your soil may be full of nematodes, fungus, insects, and weed seeds. These pests can damage the plants you are working so hard to grow. It is also possible to sterilize compost material with the same techniques to augment the soil quality in your garden.
A family garden has been covered temporarily with plastic film, creating heat to kill unwanted pathogens, Photo credit: Eco Peanut
Soil solarization[]
A garden scale approach to sterilization, referred to as soil solarization, involves covering your garden area with a clear plastic film to create heat. First clear the garden of plants and water the soil. It is recommended to leave the garden covered for four weeks during the hottest period of the year, and then remove the plastic. Some drip irrigation may be needed below the plastic if soil drains too quickly. See: Eco Peanut article
Smaller scale soil treated in solar cookers[]
Brian White compares lettuce grown in untreated soil on the left, and solar treated soil on the right after 29 days of growth, Photo credit: Brian White
Smaller batches of sterilized soil can be created with solar cookers, typically used for cooking food. The soil should be damp to wet for better heat transfer. Leaving the soil for a few hours in the sun should kill pests and weed seeds. Brian White, living in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, has experimented in his garden comparing lettuce grown in untreated and solar treated soil. It is easy to see the plants growing in the solar treated soil exhibit more robust growth. You can watch a video with more detail on Brian White's Facebook page.
Reports[]
- March 2021: Construction and performance of solar ovens used for heat treatment of soil to eliminate Phytophthora - Phytosphere Gear
Articles in the media[]
- January 2022:; How To Sterilize Soil: The Ultimate Guide For Every Treatment - Eco Peanut
- Soil Solarization: How To Kill Soil Pests and Diseases - Plant Care Today
External links[]
- March 2009: Here's a hot idea: Saginaw Valley State University creates solar oven to sanitize compost - The Bay City Times