title: Weed seed inactivation in soil mesocosms via biosolarization with mature compost and tomato processing waste amendments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biosolarization is a fumigation alternative that combines passive solar heating with amendment-driven soil microbial activity to temporarily create antagonistic soil conditions, such as elevated temperature and acidity, that can inactivate weed seeds and other pest propagules. The aim of this study was to use a mesocosm-based field trial to assess soil heating, pH, volatile fatty acid accumulation and weed seed inactivation during biosolarization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biosolarization for 8 days using 2% mature green waste compost and 2 or 5% tomato processing residues in the soil resulted in accumulation of volatile fatty acids in the soil, particularly acetic acid, and >95% inactivation of Brassica nigra and Solanum nigrum seeds. Inactivation kinetics data showed that near complete weed seed inactivation in soil was achieved within the first 5 days of biosolarization. This was significantly greater than the inactivation achieved in control soils that were solar heated without amendment or were amended but not solar heated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The composition and concentration of organic matter amendments in soil significantly affected volatile fatty acid accumulation at various soil depths during biosolarization. Combining solar heating with organic matter amendment resulted in accelerated weed seed inactivation compared with either approach alone. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.|Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Yigal
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2120-3096
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Achmon
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.|Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jesús D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fernández-Bayo
authors.affiliation: University of California Cooperative Extension, Fresno County, Fresno, CA, USA.|School of Natural Sciences, Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.affiliation: University of California Cooperative Extension, Fresno County, Fresno, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Dlinka G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: McCurry
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Duff R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Harrold
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Joey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: University of California Cooperative Extension, Fresno County, Fresno, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Dahlquist-Willard
authors.affiliation: Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, University of California, Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Parlier, CA, USA.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Stapleton
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jean S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: VanderGheynst
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D057685:Plant Weeds / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012639:Seeds / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013472:Sunlight; D013696:Temperature; D014835:Volatilization; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D012987:Soil
keywords: compost; integrated pest management; passive solar heating; soil acidification; sustainable agriculture; tomato pomace; volatile fatty acids