Soilborne plant pathogens cause heavy losses to many vegetable crops. Solarization and organic residues amendments have been evaluated as disease control strategies with good perspectives for aplication in integrated management. Field experiments were carried out at Embrapa Hortaliças, Brasília-DF, to evaluate the effects of amending soil with organic residues (biofumigation) and solarization on the incidence of bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) on tomato, on soil chemical characteristics, and weed control. Amendments with brassica residues (2%), chicken litter residues (2%), methyl bromide treatments and no soil treatment, with or without soil solarization were evaluated. After solarization and biofumigation, soil samples were collected for chemical analysis and weed seed bank evaluation. The tomato seedlings were transplanted after two months of soil solarization. Soil solarization reduced soil pH and levels of B and Zn. Organic amendments increased levels of Ca, K and Na and reduced levels of Al. Soil solarization reduced the number of weed seeds in the soil, mainly monocotyledons. Methyl bromide treatments and chicken litter amendments significantly reduced bacterial wilt incidence and disease progress.
Lycopersicon esculentum; Ralstonia solanacearum; soil disinfestation; physical control
