Al Ain Municipality applies thermal soil sterilization technology to enhance agricultural sustainability and eliminate weeds

Al Ain, April 25 / WAM / The Al Ain City Municipality announced the “solar” thermal sterilization project for soil, as one of the innovative and environmentally friendly agricultural solutions, as part of its ongoing efforts to adopt the best sustainable practices in managing green spaces and improving the quality of soil in the city.

The project relies on exploiting solar energy to raise the soil temperature to levels sufficient to eliminate agricultural pathogens and harmful weed seeds, without the need to use traditional chemical pesticides, which contributes to reducing the environmental impact and enhancing the sustainability of natural resources.

Engineer Al-Yazia Rashid Al-Neyadi, project manager, explained that the project implementation mechanism is done by covering the soil with transparent plastic covers that allow sunlight to penetrate and retain heat in the soil for a period ranging from two to four weeks, with careful management of humidity and temperature levels to ensure the best results are achieved, in addition to the use of approved organic and chemical fertilizers that help raise the temperature of the soil and thus increase the effectiveness of thermal sterilization.

She stressed that this project achieves a number of benefits, most notably improving soil fertility, increasing its biological activity, reducing the spread of plant pests and diseases, in addition to increasing the efficiency of plant growth and reducing dependence on pesticides, which contributes to reducing operational costs in the long term.

She pointed out that the application of this innovation represents a practical model for employing natural resources in the service of urban agriculture, and reflects its commitment to supporting the country’s trends towards smart and sustainable agriculture, and enhancing food security in accordance with the best environmental standards.

The municipality affirmed its continued development and adoption of quality initiatives that contribute to improving the quality of life, preserving the environment, and consolidating Al Ain’s position as a pioneering city in agricultural innovation and sustainability.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter