Soil steam sterilization (soil steaming) is a
farming technique that
sterilizes soil with
steam in open fields or greenhouses. Pests of plant cultures such as weeds, bacteria, fungi and viruses are killed through induced hot steam which causes their cell structure to physically degenerate. Biologically, the method is considered a partial disinfection. Important heat-resistant, spore-forming bacteria survive and revitalize the soil after cooling down. Soil fatigue can be cured through the release of nutritive substances blocked within the soil. Steaming leads to a better starting position, quicker growth and strengthened resistance against plant disease and pests. Today, the application of hot steam is considered the best and most effective way to disinfect sick soil, potting soil and compost. It is being used as an alternative to
bromomethane, whose production and use was curtailed by the
Montreal Protocol. "Steam effectively kills pathogens by heating the soil to levels that cause
protein coagulation or
enzyme inactivation."