Soil treatment using ozone and nitric monoxide produced by pulsed discharge

Summary form only given. Usage of methyl bromide (CH₃Br) for soil sterilization in the agricultural fields was forbidden due to its green house effect. Development of alternative soil sterilization techniques has been an urgent subject. We have proposed a soil treatment using ozone and nitric monoxide (NO) gas. Sterilization of soil using ozone gas seems attractive due to its strong sterilization and no residual toxicity properties. Ozone of high concentration was produced by pulsed RF discharge with high yield, and optimal condition was surveyed under various electrode configurations, applied voltages and duty ratios. NO gas was generated using pulsed arc discharges in the air. Effects of ozone and NO gas on the soil properties such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), oxidation reduction potential (Eh), and temperature was examined using various sensors. Ozone injected into soil decreased pH and increased EC and temperature of the soil due to oxidization. It was also found ozone sterilized some kinds of bacteria in the soil