Desarm project: How can steam disinfection be made more effective and are there alternatives to steam?

The DESARM trials highlighted several factors in the success of steam disinfection: application time, disinfection horizon, soil moisture, plot preparation and equipment and maintenance. Without optimisation, disinfection either leads to partially non disinfected areas or to an increase in application times to ensure the effectiveness of the technique. Lethal temperatures and application times were also tested on various soil pathogens and weeds. Research into alternative methods to the use of chemical disinfection is aimed at acquiring references and results on alternative methods to chemical fumigants: anaerobic soil disinfection ASD was studied with 11 carbon sources in experimental plots, with eight carbon sources achieving yields of similar quality and quantity to steam disinfection. In-depth analysis of the anaerobic disinfection processes showed that DSA installation times could be reduced from eight to three weeks. The applicability in producers' plots is now to be implemented.