As living standards continue to improve, there is a growing emphasis on maintaining a healthy diet. People are increasingly interested in consuming green and pollution-free food. However, one of the primary challenges in greenhouse farming is the presence of diseases and insect pests, which frequently compromise the quality of fruits and vegetables.

Over time, soil pathogens accumulate, posing a continuous threat to greenhouse crops. While pest infestations can have beneficial effects, the excessive and inappropriate use of pesticides can significantly diminish the safety and quality of fruits and vegetables grown in greenhouses. This, in turn, negatively impacts their overall safety and marketability. However, using ozone pest control for these applications does not have these problems.

How Ozone Pest Control Works

1. Ozone oxidizes and decomposes the glucose oxidase required for glucose metabolism in eggs.

2. Ozone directly interacts with insects and their eggs, disrupting their metabolism and reproductive processes.

3. By means of osmosis, ozone enters the cell membrane, resulting in cellular decomposition and eventual demise.

Ozone Pest Control in Greenhouse Cultivation

1. Seed treatment:

Ozone pest control can eliminate germs, insect eggs, and other harmful substances on the surface of seeds, they can be immersed in ozonated water for 15-20 minutes.

2. Greenhouse pest control

1) Air treatment: In vegetable greenhouses or nurseries, the utilization of suspended ozone generators positioned 1.5-2 meters above the ground level is recommended. As ozone density exceeds that of air, an ozone generator produces high-concentration ozone by employing air as the raw material through high-pressure and high-frequency techniques. Within a mere ten minutes, the greenhouse is effectively saturated with ozone at a concentration potent enough to exterminate insects. Ozone can even penetrate the plant roots to eliminate pests and germs, thereby reducing or minimizing the need for pesticides in greenhouse vegetable cultivation.

When it comes to controlling diseases and insect pests, pesticides are commonly used. Similarly, ozone fulfills its sterilization role and subsequently decomposes into oxygen within approximately thirty minutes, further promoting plant growth. The supply of ozone within the greenhouse occurs during nighttime when the space is unoccupied, fully enclosed, and humidity levels are high, ensuring optimal sterilization effectiveness.

2) Water treatment: The ozone generator utilizes high-voltage discharge to ionize oxygen molecules in the air, producing oxygen atoms. These oxygen atoms then combine with oxygen molecules to form ozone molecules. The ozone molecules are rapidly transformed into ozonated water within a specialized device, which will later be used in ozone pest control. High-pressure nozzles are employed to spray this ozonated water onto crops, effectively achieving insecticidal and sterilization effects.

Ozonated water serves multiple purposes, including insect extermination, sterilization, and the breakdown of pesticide residues. After use, it rapidly decomposes into oxygen without causing any pollution concerns. Generally, spraying ozonated water in greenhouses yields superior control results compared to using ozone gas directly. This is because ozone, when dissolved in water, exhibits more potent and rapid sterilization and disinfection capabilities.

Benefits of using an ozone generator:

1. Safe, efficient, and low cost. Ozone pest control offers a multitude of advantages as a single method, enabling the simultaneous control of various diseases and insect pests while keeping costs low. In comparison to pesticide spraying, ozone is more convenient, efficient, and safe. It significantly reduces the need for pesticides, preventing vegetable farmers from using highly toxic and high-residue pesticides, thus reducing pesticide expenses.

2. Pollution-free: Due to its instability in the air, ozone rapidly decomposes and converts into oxygen. As a result, there is no pollution or residue left on plants and fruits. This makes ozone an essential method for achieving pollution-free vegetable production.

 3. Improve quality and increase production: By utilizing an air source high-voltage corona, ozone can be generated along with nitrogen oxides, which serve as essential nitrogen fertilizers for plants. Experimental evidence demonstrates that the application of ozone pest control leads to a significant reduction in deformed fruits among greenhouse tomatoes. Additionally, it boosts the yield by approximately 20%, resulting in larger, well-colored, and flavorful fruits.

The bactericidal efficacy of ozone in greenhouses and nurseries is influenced by various factors, including the ozone generator model, ozone concentration, indoor temperature and humidity, lighting conditions, fertilizer and water management, and crop varieties. Therefore, the application of ozone pest control should be tailored to specific vegetable types, growth stages, prevailing pests and diseases, and climate characteristics. Adjustments should be made accordingly to ensure optimal results.

Research has indicated that higher humidity levels and lower temperatures enhance the disinfection capabilities of ozone. In high humidity conditions, the microbial cell membrane becomes thinner and more susceptible to ozone destruction, resulting in improved control efficacy. When applying ozone pest control, it is recommended to maintain ambient humidity levels above 60%, as higher humidity correlates with better bactericidal effects.

The utilization of ozone pest control in preventing and managing pests and diseases in environmentally-friendly fruit and vegetable cultivation offers numerous advantages. Unlike pesticides, it leaves no residues on the produce, avoids fruit and vegetable contamination, and prevents environmental pollution. After eliminating pests and diseases, any remaining ozone swiftly reverts back to oxygen, which promotes plant growth. This approach provides farmers with a reliable means to cultivate high-quality and environmentally-friendly products.

Furthermore, the implementation of ozone pest control not only boosts farmers’ economic gains but also enables consumers to purchase trustworthy products, achieving a dual benefit. By harnessing the unique properties of ozone and integrating them with advanced breeding techniques, it is anticipated that ozone will play an increasingly significant role in agriculture, animal husbandry, and aquaculture sectors.