Agronomic use of solarization technology on soil fertility and pest management in dryland agriculture

Crop production in dryland agriculture is challenged by weed infestation, and soil borne diseases which are sever in poorly fertile and moisture deficit soils where pathogen spores and weed seeds endure and persist for several years. There is little knowledge and organized information about the impact of solarization technology on soil fertility, beneficial soil microorganisms, greenhouse gas emission and its economic feasibility in dryland agriculture. This paper aimed to review the role of soil solarization as pest control mechanisms, its effect on soil biota and soil fertility in dryland. Data and information were gathered, synthesized and paraphrased from relevant and peer reviewed published papers. Studies showed that soil solarization increases the total population of soil microorganisms by 477 (no.g⁻¹soil) and improves soil fertility by 16%, reduce weed infestations and soil borne diseases by 90 and 80% respectively in drylands, thereby it gives a yield advantage of 17.42 t ha⁻¹ than unsalaried soil. Solarization is economically profitable and gives a return investment of 56% per year. It is more sounding with prior irrigation and biodegradable plastic films during hot seasons of dryland areas. This technology is safe, affordable, effective and sustainable crop protection and soil fertility enhancing strategy. Crop production in dryland is challenged by moisture deficiency, weed and soil born disease infestation, and degraded and poor soil fertility. In response, farmers are forced to apply extensively harmful, high-priced and unsustainable chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. Therefore, there is a demand for sustainable and sounding technology that manages soil, weed and soil born disease together at the same time. As the result, adopting alternative management technologies like soil solarization which enables safe and sustainable crop protection with minimum or no use of chemical fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides. Solarization would be a promising technology to promote beneficial soil microorganisms kills soil borne pathogens and depletes soil weed seed bank effectively and sustainably thereby improves crop yields significantly.