Pasteurizing top soil

[genghis420]

Hello,

Any recommendations on how to pasteurize larger amounts of soil say 200 GALS/1 yard?

Thank you!

 

[Creeperpark]

You can use a large barrow BBQ pit and put the soil inside on large baking pans and run it for about 30 minutes. When I worked in a greenhouse we made our own mix used a soil sterilizer and cooked it for 8 hours.

Pasteurization destroys most organisms and is done by applying heat until the soil reaches 180oF (82oC) for 30 minutes. When temperatures are raised above 212oF (100oC), most of the soil-borne organisms are killed and the soil is considered sterile.

The easiest way to 'sterilize soil': place it inside a 'sealed' Black Plastic bag in direct sunlight for 6 months. Google