METHYL BROMIDE STRIP FUMIGATION – PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED AND WAYS TO COMBAT THEM

Both soil fumigation in strips aimed for row crops and the generally accepted blanket (overall, broad acre) fumigation are widely used in Israel, and to some extent in other countries.
Generally speaking, narrow strip fumigation of 0.70 m or less is not as effective as blanket treatment.

It has been noted that the concentration of methyl bromide (MB) under the plastic tarp decreased rapidly in the strip as compared with the concentration decrease under the tarp covering the entire area under the same conditions.
This was proved to be due to quicker diffusion and escape of the gas through the edges of the tarp.
In additional experiments involving different widths of plastic sheets (from 0.50 m – 1.00 m), this border effect was proved to be more evident in the narrower strips.

Three ways are described to overcome this problem: increasing initial MB dosage, sprinkler irrigation of the uncovered area in between the strips, or split-dosage treatment.
All these ways maintain higher concentrations in the fumigated strips and a higher concentration x time (CxT) product is achieved.

III International Symposium on Soil Desinfestation

L. Klein

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1989.255.25