UC Santa Cruz Researchers Develop Soil Steaming For Strawberry Farming

Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz have developed a method using boiling water vapor to sterilize soil for strawberry farming, Good News Network reported. The system offers an alternative to chemical fumigants previously used in California fields. The Los Angeles Times originally reported on the study. [1]

Chemical fumigants traditionally used in agricultural fields are believed to harm the environment, local wildlife, and farmworkers. The soil steaming approach delivers a puff of steam into the ground to clear harmful pathogens without requiring synthetic inputs. [1]

Soil steam sterilization heats soil in greenhouses or open fields to kill harmful pests and pathogens. The technique gives crops a stronger starting position, speeds up initial plant growth, and strengthens resistance against plant diseases. [2]

The non-chemical approach fits within organic farming standards, which emphasize biological techniques and prohibit synthetic pesticides and soil sterilizers. Recent trials indicate that soil steaming can help farmers achieve larger and more reliable strawberry yields. [1][3]