Articles
ALTERNATIVES TO METHYL BROMIDE FOR STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION IN CALIFORNIA, USA
Article number
698_2
Pages
27 – 32
Language
English
Abstract
Soilborne pathogens of strawberry in California have been controlled for the last 40 years largely by soil fumigation with mixtures of methyl bromide (MB) and chloropicrin (Pic). Among the chemical alternatives to MB tested, 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) mixed with chloropicrin (TeloneC35™) can be as effective as MB/Pic in controlling soilborne pathogens and increasing yields.
The efficacy of TeloneC35 was generally improved by drip application as the emulsified product InLine™ and by the use of impermeable VIF plastic mulch.
InLine is currently the most widely used alternative to MB in California strawberry production.
Chloropicrin (Pic) alone at high rates (e.g., 336 kg/ha of treated bed area) can give significant control of soilborne pathogens in soil, especially when applied through drip systems as an emulsion with VIF mulch, but pathogen control is not usually so complete as when Pic is mixed with MB, 1,3-D, or methyl iodide.
Sequential applications of Pic and metam sodium improved yields and Verticillium wilt control.
Metam sodium alone, however, did not give adequate disease control or yield increases.
Methyl iodide (iodomethane) gave disease control and yield increases similar to MB when mixed with chloropicrin.
Registration of methyl iodide, however, is still pending in California and the U.S. Other prospective chemical alternatives to MB have been researched, but they were either not sufficiently active and/or will not be available for several years.
A variety of nonchemical or cultural practices (e.g., cultivar selection, crop rotation, organic amendments) can reduce Verticillium wilt and increase yields in strawberry, but none provided the level of risk reduction or yield increase normally achieved by effective soil fumigation.
The efficacy of TeloneC35 was generally improved by drip application as the emulsified product InLine™ and by the use of impermeable VIF plastic mulch.
InLine is currently the most widely used alternative to MB in California strawberry production.
Chloropicrin (Pic) alone at high rates (e.g., 336 kg/ha of treated bed area) can give significant control of soilborne pathogens in soil, especially when applied through drip systems as an emulsion with VIF mulch, but pathogen control is not usually so complete as when Pic is mixed with MB, 1,3-D, or methyl iodide.
Sequential applications of Pic and metam sodium improved yields and Verticillium wilt control.
Metam sodium alone, however, did not give adequate disease control or yield increases.
Methyl iodide (iodomethane) gave disease control and yield increases similar to MB when mixed with chloropicrin.
Registration of methyl iodide, however, is still pending in California and the U.S. Other prospective chemical alternatives to MB have been researched, but they were either not sufficiently active and/or will not be available for several years.
A variety of nonchemical or cultural practices (e.g., cultivar selection, crop rotation, organic amendments) can reduce Verticillium wilt and increase yields in strawberry, but none provided the level of risk reduction or yield increase normally achieved by effective soil fumigation.
Publication
Authors
J.M. Duniway
Keywords
Fragaria x ananassa, soil fumigation, chloropicrin, 1,3-dichloropropene, metam sodium, methyl iodide, Verticillium dahliae
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