Eco-friendly treatment of Nematodes with Silver H2O2

Nematicides are a class of pesticides used specifically for treating parasitic nematodes.

What are Nematodes?

Nematodes or roundworms fit in with the Phylum Nematoda, from a Greek word "nema" which means string/ thread and "eidos" for structure. Extending from 0.3 mm to 8 meters, they are fundamentally basic, with a major portion of the cells being associated with multiplication. Some species can lay up to 27 million eggs in one single day. Once they have entered a root, chemical treatment is more troublesome.

The elimination of nematodes being essential, chemical treatment is the only available technique.

Both volatile and non-volatile nematicides are available in the market.

The highly volatile chemicals having low molecular weights vapourize rapidly and are only able to kill the parasites in the free soil spaces.

The non volatile ones are dependent on the moisture and organic content of the soil, which needs to be carefully monitored, adding to more costs.

Nematicides remain in the top portion of the soil (topsoil) where their biocidal effect is most prominent. Upon use, they are flushed through the soil layers where their stay is extended. All nematicides have low LD50 values making them highly toxic that have been turning groundwater toxic, leading to their disapproval.

A Nematicide must therefore be safe to be applied to plants with sufficient quantity remaining to reach the roots to treat both ecto (the ones in soil) and endo (the ones in roots) parasites.

Silver Hydrogen Peroxide is a multifunctional biodegradable agriculture disinfectant, which is formed as a result of hydrogen peroxide and silver, stabilized with various other catalysts.

Apart from its bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal abilities, silver H2O2 functions as a biodegradable nematicide, effectively treating parasitic nematodes which are known to be very stubborn and difficult to treat.

Pests like root knot nematodes are hard to treat, since they reproduce fast and intensely in monocultures and rotating techniques leave the roots vulnerable to infection with eroded soil layers. H2O2+AgNO3 reacted silver peroxide is a fast acting; effective nematicide, which is stable over a wide pH and temperature range, does not change the pH values of the soil, also without any harmful residues to contaminate both soil and groundwater.

Eco-friendly and biodegradable into water and oxygen, silver hydrogen peroxide poses no threat to ground water poisoning. It has been approved in many countries like France, Germany to be even used in drinking water sanitation till a recommended concentration.

As a preventive measure for nematodes, soil can be fumigated with silver hydrogen peroxide. Silver H2O2 can also be used to treat parasitic infections of nematodes by drench and drip methods. Silver H2O2 does not leave behind any toxic residues that cause unwanted chemical reactions later. Instead, the breaking down of silver hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen increases the dissolved oxygen content of the soil.

The silver in silver H2O2 with its anti-senescence (anti-ageing) effect increases the shelf life of the fruits and flowers.

Silver Hydrogen Peroxide has a high LD50 value making it nontoxic in nature. Due to its fast action and zero phytotoxic effect, it effectively reduces the time between soil fumigation and plantation from the conventional 3 weeks to just 4-6 hours.

This multipurpose and broad spectrum highly efficient disinfectant is available in the market at a low price, making silver hydrogen peroxide highly cost effective.