# Biofumigation

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{{Short description|Method of pest control}}
'''Biofumigation''' is a method of [pest control](/source/pest_control) in agriculture, a variant of [fumigation](/source/fumigation) where the gaseous active substance—fumigant—is produced by decomposition of plant material freshly chopped and buried in the [soil](/source/soil) for this purpose.<ref name="FAO">{{cite web |url=https://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/climatechange0/methyl-bromide/alt/biofum/en/ |title=Biofumigation |publisher=[Food and Agriculture Organization](/source/Food_and_Agriculture_Organization) |accessdate=2022-01-11}}</ref><ref name="WSUext">{{cite journal |url=https://extension.wsu.edu/wam/what-is-biofumigation-and-does-it-have-potential-to-be-used-in-pacific-northwest-red-raspberry-production-systems/ |title=What Is Biofumigation and Does It Have Potential to Be Used In Pacific Northwest Red Raspberry Production Systems? |last=Rudolph |first=Rachel |volume=5 |issue=4 |journal=Whatcom Ag Monthly |year=2016 |publisher=[Washington State University](/source/Washington_State_University)}}</ref><ref name="Dict">{{cite web |url=https://dicoagroecologie.fr/en/encyclopedia/biofumigation/ |first1=Amaia |last1=Costa |first2=Lise |last2=Cotonat |first3=Antoine |last3=Couedel |first4=Célia |last4=Seassau |date=2019-02-20 |title=Biofumigation |work=Dictionnaire d'Agroecologie |accessdate=2022-01-11}}</ref>

Plants from the [Brassicaceae](/source/Brassicaceae) family (e.g., [mustards](/source/Mustard_plant), [cauliflower](/source/cauliflower), and [broccoli](/source/broccoli)) are primarily used due to their high [glucosinolate](/source/glucosinolate) content; in the process of decomposition, glucosinolates are broken down to volatile [isothiocyanate](/source/isothiocyanate)s which are toxic to soil organisms such as [bacteria](/source/bacteria), [fungi](/source/fungi) and [nematode](/source/nematode)s, but less toxic and persistent in the environment than synthetic fumigants.<ref name="WSUext"/> Alternatively, [grasses](/source/Poaceae) such as [sorghum](/source/sorghum) can be used, in which case [hydrogen cyanide](/source/hydrogen_cyanide) is produced to similar effect.<ref name="Dict"/>

The method consists of mowing and chopping the plants during flowering to ensure maximum glucosinolate content and speed up decomposition. The ground needs to be [irrigated](/source/irrigation) to field capacity, after which the chopped material is incorporated into the top layer and covered with impermeable film to prevent the gas from escaping. After three or four weeks, the film is removed and the ground is ready for planting 24 hours later.<ref name="FAO"/> Burying biofumigant crops after the growing season   to plant [cash crop](/source/cash_crop)s normally next year may in theory lead to a build up of active substance in the soil after a few cycles of [crop rotation](/source/crop_rotation), but direct short-term suppression of pests is not notable in this case.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://grdc.com.au/research/reports/report?id=6599 |title=CSP274 - Exploiting the biofumigation potential of brassicas in farming systems |publisher=Grains Research & Development Corporation |date=2017-11-01 |accessdate=2022-01-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=Rudolph | first=Rachel E. | last2=Sams | first2=Carl | last3=Steiner | first3=Robert | last4=Thomas | first4=Stephen H. | last5=Walker | first5=Stephanie | last6=Uchanski | first6=Mark E. | title=Biofumigation Performance of Four Brassica Crops in a Green Chile Pepper (''Capsicum annuum'') Rotation System in Southern New Mexico | journal=HortScience | volume=50 | issue=2 | year=2015 | doi=10.21273/hortsci.50.2.247 | pages=247–253| doi-access=free }}</ref>

The method can be used as a more sustainable and environment-friendly alternative to classic fumigation and other chemical pest control methods. Additionally, it can serve to replenish the nutrient content of the soil and promote growth of beneficial organisms.<ref name="Dict"/> On the other hand, it requires changes in cultivation practice due to the time needed for the method to take effect, can be costly if biofumigant-producing plants need to be brought from elsewhere (i. e. if they are not used in crop rotation to be chopped and buried on site), and is difficult to standardize due to varying active substance content in different [cultivar](/source/cultivar)s.<ref name="WSUext"/><ref name="Dict"/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== See also ==
* [biosolarization](/source/biosolarization)

Category:Pest control techniques
Category:Agricultural terminology
Category:Soil science
Category:Soil contamination
Category:Biocides

{{Agri-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Biofumigation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofumigation) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofumigation?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.