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Tillage in the greenhouse at the beginning and end of the season is an extremely important element of plant care. Disinfect the soil in late autumn or early spring, before planting. To do this, use different methods and preparations, the study of the properties and methods of application of which is devoted to this article.
Soil disinfection
Disinfecting the soil before planting is important in order to get healthy plants and a rich harvest. Almost all pathogenic microbes, as well as most insects, hibernate in the soil and frame of the greenhouse. In pest control, chemical and biological preparations, steam treatment, and high temperature are used. Most often, procedures are carried out in the spring.
Chemical method
Treat the soil with chemicals. This is one of the most effective ways to eradicate pests once and for all. But at the same time, it is quite dangerous, both for human health and for plants. Chemical burns on the skin and mucous membranes, the destruction of even beneficial microorganisms is the price for the absence of fungus and insects. However, if all safety rules are followed, most of the negative consequences can be leveled.
One of the most common chemical treatments is bleach. For 1 square meter you will need 200 g of lime, which must be mixed with loosened soil.
Another way is watering with 40% formalin. To do this, dilute 1 liter of formalin in 50 liters of water, use to spill the soil at the rate of: 10 liters of solution per 1 square meter. After watering, collect the earth in one large pile, leave for 2-3 days, and then spread evenly throughout the greenhouse. It is important to ensure that the greenhouse is well ventilated to avoid formalin vapor poisoning. The procedure should be carried out in a respirator.
You can also use copper sulphate treatment. When digging the soil in a greenhouse, sprinkle the earth with vitriol, at the rate of 40-100 g per 1 square meter.
Often in the spring sulfur blocks are used: 1-50 g of sulfur are taken per 100 cubic meter of greenhouse, set on fire. Smoking with sulfuric smoke helps to cope with almost all pests, however, the emitted sulfur dioxide settles in the soil and is subsequently absorbed by plants.
Video “Soil preparation in the greenhouse”
How to cultivate the land in a greenhouse before planting is described in the video.
biological
The soil can also be disinfected by a biological method. Of course, it is quite difficult to remove all leaves, roots and other organic debris from a large plot of land. Then special preparations come to the rescue, affecting the soil in a complex way. Such substances not only eliminate excess organic matter by decomposing it, but also inhibit the development of microorganisms.
These drugs are not too expensive, and at the same time quite effective. Using Fitosporin-M or Bactofit you can save time and effort that would be spent on removing small organic residues from the soil.
In addition, biological substances do not change the soil microflora. All microorganisms that can be beneficial for the plant are preserved in the spring, when it finally warms up, and perform their function in saturating the soil with useful microelements.
This method of tillage is the most gentle and at the same time effective. The result of soil treatment with biological substances has a long-term effect, and pathogenic microflora and flexible do not develop in the ground and on plants for quite a long time.
In order to disinfect the greenhouse soil, you should dilute the drug of your choice in water in a ratio of 100 grams per 10 liters. The main thing is that the water should be devoid of chlorine particles, which inhibit the action of drugs. Such soil treatment in greenhouses is carried out twice. The second time – two weeks after the initial watering of the earth with a solution.
Temperature
Temperature treatment is used not only for calcining and disinfecting seeds before planting seedlings, but also for disinfecting soil in a greenhouse. Processing can be carried out at both low and high temperatures. Freezing the premises is best done in February or early March, while the air temperature outside is really low. Leave the greenhouse open for 5-6 days to allow the soil to freeze deeply. This treatment helps to destroy more than 70% of pathogenic microbes.
In order to surely get rid of all pests, you should resort to high temperature treatment. The easiest way is to water the soil in the greenhouse with only boiled water and leave to dry.
Steam treatment is widespread, using a steam generator. It is important to observe safety precautions when working with steam so as not to get burned. If you do not have a steam generator, but the greenhouse is heated, then water the ground, and then turn on the heating at full power. At the same time, it is important to keep the room closed in order to create the effect of a bath inside the greenhouse. It is better to do this in the spring before planting the plants.
Another method of steam treatment is for greenhouses in which there is no heating. In the spring, when the air temperature is consistently high, water the soil in the greenhouse with hot water, close the room. The sun’s rays will warm the air inside, so that the water will begin to evaporate.
Soil renewal
In addition to the proposed ways to clean the soil from infection, you should remember one of the most effective ways to avoid infection of planted crops. The simplest method, soil replacement, is often the most effective. In small greenhouses, replacing the soil is not at all difficult. But in large ones, up to 8 centimeters of the top layer of the earth are usually removed, replacing it with fresh soil from open beds.
The removed soil should not be mixed with the soil in the beds. It should be kept in a separate place and layered with disinfectants and humus. After a few years, this land will again be suitable for planting its own crops in it without the risk of infection.
If it is not possible to replace the soil, all of the listed methods of cultivating the land should be used. This is best done in the spring, before planting a crop in it.
Video “We process the greenhouse with copper sulfate”
How to properly process a greenhouse with copper sulfate is discussed in the video.
