Above is a drawing of a thermometer to show at what soil temperatures weed seeds, insects, and plant pathogens are killed.

At an approximate temperature of 115°F (46.1°C) water molds.

At an approximate temperature of 120°F (48.9°C) Nematodes are killed.

At an approximate temperature of 122°F (50°C) Sclerotium rolfsii and Sclerotina sclerotiorum is killed.

At an approximate temperature of 125°F (51.7°C) Rhizoctonia solani is killed.

At an approximate temperature of 130°F (54.4°C) Botrytis gray mold is killed.

At an approximate temperature of 135°F (57.2°C) Gladiolus yellows, Fusarium is killed.

At an approximate temperature of 140°F (60.0°C) most plant pathogenic bacteria, worms, slugs, and centipedes are killed.

At an approximate temperature of 142°F (61.1°C) most plant pathogenic fungi are killed.

Between the temperatures of 140°F (60.0°C) and 160°F (71.1°C) soil insects are killed.

At an approximate temperature of 160°F (71.1°C) all plant pathogenic bacteria and most plant viruses are killed.

Between the temperatures of 160°F (71.1°C) and 178°F (81.1°C) most weed seeds are killed.

Between the temperatures of 200°F (93.3°C) and 212°F (100.0°C) few resistant weed seeds and resistant plant viruses are killed.