TY - JOUR
T1 - Rapid recolonization of agricultural soil by microarthropods after steam disinfestation
AU - Fenoglio, Stefano
AU - Malacarne, Giorgio
AU - Cucco, Marco
AU - Gay, Paolo
N1 - Funding Information:
Stefano Fenoglio (E-mail: [email protected]), Giorgio Malacarne (E-mail: [email protected]), and Marco Cucco (E-mail: [email protected]) are affiliated wih the University of Piemonte Orientale, Di.S.A.V., Via Bellini 25, Alessandria, Italy. Paolo Gay (E-mail: [email protected]) is affiliated with the University of Torino, D.E.I.A.F.A., Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, Grugliasco TO, Italy. Address correspondence to: Stefano Fenoglio at the above address. The authors thank A. Giordano, D. Dagna and A. Breglia for help in sorting invertebrates, and F. Marchisio for assistance during steam soil sterilization. This research was supported by ACNA and MURST grants.
PY - 2006/5/10
Y1 - 2006/5/10
N2 - Steam disinfestation of soil is attracting growing interest in intensive agriculture, because of the increasing demand of reduced use of fumigants. In this study, we assessed the effect of steam application on the microarthropod community, a fundamental component of soil environment. We conducted steam disinfestation treatments in experimental parcels, where we sampled for edaphic microarthropods on one date before and on four dates after the treatments. Our results showed that edaphic fauna quickly recolonized the disinfested soil, re-establishing dense and rich communities after 45 days. These results support the low environmental impact of this technique and thus could be used for certification of the eco-biological sustainability of steam treatment in organic farming.
AB - Steam disinfestation of soil is attracting growing interest in intensive agriculture, because of the increasing demand of reduced use of fumigants. In this study, we assessed the effect of steam application on the microarthropod community, a fundamental component of soil environment. We conducted steam disinfestation treatments in experimental parcels, where we sampled for edaphic microarthropods on one date before and on four dates after the treatments. Our results showed that edaphic fauna quickly recolonized the disinfested soil, re-establishing dense and rich communities after 45 days. These results support the low environmental impact of this technique and thus could be used for certification of the eco-biological sustainability of steam treatment in organic farming.
KW - Edaphic fauna
KW - Intensive agriculture
KW - Microarthropods
KW - Steam disinfestation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33745728853&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1300/J064v27n04_09
DO - 10.1300/J064v27n04_09
M3 - Article
SN - 1044-0046
VL - 27
SP - 125
EP - 135
JO - Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
JF - Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
IS - 4
ER -
