Soil solarization

With the growing concern about the pesticide hazards to man and the environment, soil solarisation has recently emerged as a promising and effective substitute to the prevailing extensive use of soil fumigants. However, the use of this technology has until recently remained confined within the bounds of a number of research institutes and to small-scale trials and demonstrations, but has not reached the farmers at large. Based on a conference at the University of Jordan, this book argues that soil solarisation is potentially an integrated method of improving plant health, growth and yield in arid agriculture as well as marginal zones, and is a safe, cheap and effective alternative to chemical methods.