Good soil health is critical for the well-being of crops, and it also enables agricultural sustainability. However, there is no standardized, clear, and measurable soil health definition. Soil health is typically a vague concept in many discussions. As a result, growers usually have a difficult time figuring out the best soil health management practices, like soil fumigation, to optimize their farm’s sustainability.It is critical to develop an appropriate definition of soil health. If you are considering soil fumigation as a way to improve the health of your farm’s soil, you likely have a lot of questions because of the many things you have heard about the practice. Here’s some clarity;
Does Fumigation Affect Soil Health?
For a while now, soil fumigation has been getting a bad rap as a practice that harms soil health. However, you should know that this conclusion was drawn from academic research funded by a small group of fumigant-alternative companies. They aimed to create an unbalanced representation of how modern soil fumigation affects the soil and obscure how growers and the agricultural community at large get to understand this practice.
In contrast to what this “bad rep” campaign might have you think, numerous published scientific researches have proven that a considerable number of soil fumigants like chloropicrin don’t harm soil health. These researches show that these soil fumigants improve soil health.
What Are the Advantages of Fumigating Soil?
There are numerous advantages to fumigating soil. Thus, it’s no surprise that many growers are into soil fumigation. Some of its benefits are:
- It significantly reduces the possibility of the soil being inhibited by crop pests and diseases while having zero effect on beneficial micro-organisms. As a result, soil fumigation prevents massive financial losses associated with pests and diseases infecting crops.
- By preventing soil-inhabiting pests and diseases from thriving, they allow beneficial micro-organisms like bacteria and fungi to flourish due to the abundance of food. This works to improve soil health and the farm’s sustainability.
- It works fast, and the results are visible within days or weeks
Not All Soil Fumigants Are Equal
While the benefits of using fumigants on your farm are exciting, you should remember that not all soil fumigants are equal. Each fumigant will affect the biology of your farm’s soil differently depending on its ingredients and your farm’s soil composition. The soil fumigant that works for your friend’s farm might be suitable for yours. This is why you must have the soil on your farm evaluated to find out which soil fumigant will be best suited for it.
Do You Need Soil Fumigation Services in Washington State?
Welcome to Custom Orchard Fumigation, established in 1992 by farmers for farmers. We are exceptional soil fumigators located in Pasco, and we provide our services statewide. Besides soil fumigation, we also offer agricultural consulting, soil pest control, and soil amendment services. Our founder, Chris Ford, is a veteran professional in the Forest Management field. Our mission is to help growers realize the full potential of their farms. Call us today.