Biofumigation

Biofumigation is based on the incorporation of fresh plant mass into the soil, which will release several substances able to suppress soil-borne pests. Among these substances are found the MITC (methyl isothyocianates) highly toxic to pests and pathogens. Plants from Cruciferae family release large amount of these toxic compounds in soil and are considered the best material for biofumigation. 

Biofumigation reduces weed competition and soil-borne pathogens and is a suitable tool for soil disinfection. As in the case of solarization, it also increases nutrient uptake by plants.

The operation for biofumigation consists of the following steps:

Incorporation of the fresh mass into the soil. This can be done directly if the mass is coming from grown crop or with mass taken from other side and brought into the plot or field of interest. In the latter, the soil should be well prepared before the incorporation.

Irrigating the soil at its field capacity.

Covering the soil surface tightly with a transparent plastic film, this could be the same as the one used for soil solarization.

The film is removed 3-4 weeks after and the soil slightly removed in order to permit the gases to escape from soil.

Planting of the interested crop can be done 24 hours later.