With the growing concern about pesticide to man and the environment, soil solarization 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 lately remained confined within the bounds of a number of research institutes and to small-scale trials and demonstrations, but has not reached the farmers al large.
The need for a workshop on soil solarization in the Near East, as an ideal region to benefit from the technique, was first noted in 1985 by Dr Luigi Chiarappa, former Chief of the Plant Protection Service of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Since then, ways and means have been sought for the materialization of such a workshop.
By 1989, the University of Jordan in Amman was identified as an active nucleus in the field of soil solarization. Contacts were established with concerned scientists in the University, and FAO reached agreement with the University to convene the workshop in Amman.
After consultation among the members of the Organizing Committee established for the workshop, it was soon apparent that a conference on soil solarization, with invited and contributed papers along with field demonstrations, would be more effective than a workshop in reaching the goals first envisaged by the organizers, i.e. to provide an instructional forum and to exchange ideas and knowledge on the principles and practice of soil solarization.
The First International Conference on Soil Solarization was judged an outstanding success, as reflected by the fellowship among conference participants, the intense and friendly exchanges of information during the various sessions and presentations, and the friendships made during the Conference. More than a hundred scientists, representing various institutions in 21 countries, attended the Conference.
The conference proceedings before you, resect the scientific achievements in this field, which leave no doubt that soil solarization is a potential integrated method of improving plant health, growth and yield in arid agriculture as well as marginal zones, and as a safe, cheap and effective alternative to chemical methods.
Special thanks are extended to colleagues from the University of Jordan who provided the splendid arrangements and venue for the Conference. Also acknowledged is the excellent assistance of Mrs Gerry Carinio and Mrs Valinda Stagner (Department of Plant Pathology-Davis, University of California) in the preparation of the proceedings.
The Organizing Committee
Walid J. Abu-Gharbich
Mahmoud M. Taher
James E. De Vay
Francesco Lamberti