Sterilization of

soil
Page 24
 Sterilization of soil is the
process of destroying
diseases, pests and
weeds.
Microorganisms can be
killed, inhibited or
removed by exposing
materials to lethal agents,
which may be physical,
chemical or ionic in
Method of sterilization
1. Physical agents :
Steam Radiation
sun radiation
2. Chemical agent :
Methyl bromide
Formaldehyde
 Chloropicrin
Dazomet
Vapsam
 Steam sterilization :
A number of organisms are
injurious to plants, and each
has its own condition under
which it is destroyed.
It has been customary to
apply steam for 30
minutes beyond the time
when the coldest spot in
the batch that is
 The root media should be
loosened before pasteurizing. If
it is in a bench, it should be rot
tilled.
Heat moves most rapidly within
the medium by convection i.e. by
movement of steam through the
pores.
There are large pores in loose
media, which facilitates the
movement of steam and there by
 The root medium should not be
dry.
The media should be at field
capacity condition. Steam
should be passed from
portable steam generator or
main streamline in the nursery
through low-pressure hosepipe.
 Steam is distributed in
beds through buried
perforated pipes. For 0.9
m wide bed one row is
buried. For 1.2 m beds,
two rows are used.
 For 0.9 m wide bed one
row is buried. For 1.2 m
beds, two rows are used.
The used rain gutters,
used boiler flue tubes,
irrigation pipes can be
used with pair of holes (3-
6 mm) in diameter drilled
 Limitations :
Two types of toxicity
problems can occur as a
result of steam
pasteurization. One is
manganese toxicity and
other is ammonium
toxicity.