Soil Sterilizer

a chemical agent used to disinfect soil. Soil sterilizers destroy crop pests (wireworms, falsewireworms, June beetle larvae) and the causative agents of disease (pathogenic bacteria, fungi, nematodes). They are particularly effective in controlling nematodes. Thiazone and nematocides (chloropicrin, carbation, D-D) are used in the USSR as soil sterilizers. The chemicals are used on both open and sheltered ground; the dose is 100–200 g per sq m. Soil is treated with toxic chemical compounds ten to 40 days before sowing or setting out seedlings. The decomposition products of the sterilizers do not harm the useful soil microflora. It is necessary to observe safety measures when handling soil sterilizers.