Patent ID: 7469500

Claim:
A method for nematode extermination in soil, comprising: providing a plurality of electric heat blankets, each blanket comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and a thermal insulating layer on the upper surface of the respective heat blanket; providing an electric power circuit connected to each blanket for energizing the respective blanket; providing a temperature sensor in, on, or below each blanket that measures the temperature of the respective blanket; providing an electric current control device that receives the temperature of each blanket from the respective sensor and controls the power circuits to reach a desired temperature range in a first subset of the blankets up to a total available current load, then reduces the current provided to the first subset of the blankets to maintain the desired temperature range in the first subset of blankets while similarly controlling additional of the plurality of blankets until each of the plurality of blankets has been maintained within a desired temperature range for a desired period of time; placing the heat blankets on a surface area of soil; and energizing each heat blanket to achieve a first temperature range of approximately 150° C. (300° F.) to 200° C. (392° F.) for a first period of time of approximately 20 to 50 hours in each heat blanket in order to obtain a second temperature of at least 52° C. (125° F.) at a given soil depth of at least 12 cm (4.7 inches) for a second period of time that is effective for killing at least most nematodes in the soil under each heat blanket.