Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD): Advantages and disadvantages.
Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) is an alternative method to chemical soil treatments for controlling soil-borne diseases, pests, and weeds. The process involves incorporating fresh organic matter into the soil, covering it with a virtually impermeable film (VIF), wetting the soil, and closing the surface to create anaerobic conditions that suppress harmful organisms. ASD is effective against a wide range of fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and weeds, although its efficacy varies depending on soil type and target organism.
Advantages of ASD include its potential to reduce soil-borne pests and diseases without chemical use, making it a more environmentally friendly option. It can be applied in high-value crop production where seed or young plant protection is critical. Although ASD is costly, with expenses around 4000 €/ha mainly for plastic materials, benefits have been observed in field experiments, often outweighing costs depending on local circumstances and crop value.
Disadvantages include the relatively high cost, limited application window since it requires temperatures above 16°C, and possible negative effects on certain beneficial soil organisms such as earthworms and springtails. ASD does not sterilize the soil entirely; many beneficial organisms survive and recover quickly, but some antagonists like earthworms may be affected, potentially reducing soil resilience temporarily. It is also important to avoid growing sensitive crops, such as those vulnerable to Pythium, immediately after ASD to minimize phytotoxicity risks.
Overall, although expensive, ASD is considered promising for high-value crops and offers a chemical-free alternative for managing soil health and pest control. Practical and detailed information about the method, including its advantages and disadvantages, can be found in the referenced videos and factsheets by Best4Soil.
Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD): Advantages and disadvantages. (en)
Number of pages: 2
Target countries: The Netherlands
Key takeaways
- ASD effectively reduces a wide range of soil-borne diseases, pests, and weeds
- The method shows good to very good effectivity against various organisms such as Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium, Rhizoctonia, nematodes, and certain weeds, making it a promising alternative to chemical treatments.
- High costs limit ASD's routine use to high-value crops
- Despite its effectiveness, direct costs (around 4000 €/ha) and additional expenses restrict ASD application primarily to high-value crops where benefits outweigh costs.
- ASD influences soil biological dynamics, with both positive and negative effects
- Beneficial organisms tend to recover quickly after ASD, but some beneficial soil fauna like earthworms and antagonists may be killed, potentially affecting soil resilience, especially against Pythium.
- ASD is not a sterilization method and allows for rapid recovery of beneficial microbes
- Unlike sterilization via steaming, many beneficial organisms survive ASD and recover within days, reducing long-term impacts on soil health.
- Application of ASD requires specific conditions, including moisture, organic matter incorporation, and impermeable film cover
- Effective execution involves wetting soil, adding fresh organic matter, sealing the surface, and covering with virtually impermeable film, which influence its success and cost.
- Post-application crop management should consider the potential temporary reduction in soil resilience
- Due to its impact on certain beneficial organisms and soil resilience against Pythium, it is recommended to avoid planting Pythium-sensitive crops immediately after ASD.
Sources
- Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD): Advantages and disadvantages. - - https://www.best4soil.eu/assets/factsheets/3.pdf
