Publications by authors named "Tara E Randall"
Regulatory pressure along with environmental and human health concerns drive the development of soil fumigation alternatives such as soil biosolarization (SBS). SBS involves tarping soil that is at field capacity with a transparent film following amendment with certain organic materials. Heating via the greenhouse effect results in an increase of the soil temperature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Soil biosolarization may be a beneficial alternative to traditional fumigation, utilizing volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from fermented organic matter to help control pests like Brassica nigra (BN) and Fusarium oxysporum (FOL).
- While BN seed mortality was slightly higher in biosolarized soil compared to solarized soil, the correlation between VFA levels and BN mortality suggests that VFAs play a role in pest management.
- The study indicates that the method of organic waste stabilization affects the effectiveness of biosolarization, highlighting the potential for improved pest control and enhanced soil quality through better organic waste practices.