Effect of solarization of farmyard manure-amended soil for management of damping-off caused by Pythium ultimum, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerothini rolfsii in vegetable crops in nurseries

A study was conducted during 2001 and 2002 at Nauni, to find out the effect of mulching with transparent polyethylene (25 pm) on farmyard manure-amended nursery beds on soil temperature, viability of sclerotia of Rhizocionia solani Kuhn, Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. and viable propagules of Pythium ultinuum Trow; germination of seeds: pre- and post-emergence damping-off and plant growth of brinjal (Solanum melonguena L.), cabbage [Brassica oleracea L. var capitata (L.) f], capsicum [Capsicum annuum L. var grossum (Willd.) Sendt.], chilli [Capsicum annuum L. var longum (DC-) Sendt.] and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. nom. cons.). Soil solarization of farmyard manure-amended nursery beds resulted in increase of 3.9-10.5degreesC in average maximum temperature at different soil depths compared to nonsolarized nursery beds. The temperature recorded in solarized and farmyard manure-amended nursery beds were also higher (0.3-1.7degreesC) than solarized and non-amended nursery beds. Solarized nursery beds (both farmyard manure-amended and non-amended) resulted in 100% mortality of sclerotia of Sclerolium rolfsii, Rhizocionia solani and viable propagules of Pythium ultinum up to 6 cm soil depth after 30 days of solarization. Soil solarization with amendment of farmyard manure proved more effective and statistically superior with 2.9-10.2-% higher seed germination. 2.2-10-2% lower incidence of post-emergence damping-off, 9.3-23.8% increase in shoot length and 7.9-20.9% increase in root length to solarized and non-amended nursery beds.