What is an example of soil sterilization by heat?

Soil sterilization by heat is a technique used to eliminate pathogens, weeds, and other unwanted organisms from the soil, making it a vital practice in pest control and agricultural management. The correct example of this method is found in hot water treatments, where soil is treated with water at high temperatures for a specified duration, effectively killing off harmful organisms.

In contrast, composting is a process of organic matter decomposition that relies on microbial activity to create nutrient-rich soil but does not necessarily sterilize the soil. While it can reduce pathogens over time, it does not achieve complete sterilization. Solarization, on the other hand, employs sunlight to heat the soil covered with plastic, which can raise soil temperatures sufficiently to kill some pests and pathogens but may not achieve the same level of sterilization as hot water treatments. Cover cropping involves growing specific plants to cover and enrich the soil but does not sterilize it through heat.

Therefore, the combination of composting and hot water treatments exemplifies different approaches to soil management, with only hot water treatments being a direct example of soil sterilization by heat.