Giardia is an intestinal parasite that causes diarrhea in humans and animals. Soil can become contaminated with giardia when infected humans or animals defecate in the area. Applying water contaminated with giardia or improperly composted manure to the soil can also cause contamination. To kill giardia, raise the temperature of contaminated soil to between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit for seven days using a simple process called solarization.
Use two layers of transparent UV stabilized plastic sheeting with a thickness between 0.5 and 4 millimeters.
Cut the plastic with a pair of scissors or utility knife. Use a piece of plastic large enough to completely cover the desired area plus an additional 12 inches on all sides to secure it to the ground.
Lay out two layers of plastic over the target area.
Secure the plastic to prevent the wind from tearing it or blowing it away. Use a shovel to bury the edges of the plastic in small trenches at least 5 or 6 inches deep. Place rocks along the edge for additional weight in windy areas.
Wash your hands thoroughly to avoid ingesting the giardia.
Achieve temperatures high enough to kill giardia by leaving the plastic on the soil for six to eight weeks in the spring or fall and four to six weeks in the summer.
Check the temperature of the soil with a soil thermometer to ensure the soil reaches a temperature between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit for seven days.
Things You Will Need
- UV stabilized plastic sheeting
- Scissors or utility knife
- You can make holes in the plastic for planting rather than removing it once the solarization process is complete.
- Don’t use white or black plastic because it won't create temperatures high enough to kill giardia.
- International Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Soil Science; Comparison Among Solarization Kind of Pailes and Their Impact In the Control of Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia; Enrique Salazar Sosa, et al.; 2011.
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System: Soil Solarization for the Control of Nematodes and Soilborne Diseases
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Giardia
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Learning about Giardia and Giardiasis
- Journal of Applied Microbiology; Control of Enteric Pathogens in Ready-to-Eat Vegetable Crops in Organic and ‘Low Input’ Production Systems: a HACCP-Based Approach; C. Leifert, et al.; 2008
- Steve Baccon/Digital Vision/Getty Images