Articles
EVALUATION OF A COMBINED DAZOMET AND METAM-SODIUM TREATMENT FOR PRE-PLANT SOIL FUMIGATION
Article number
698_5
Pages
51 – 56
Language
English
Abstract
The UK cut flower industry urgently requires an alternative to methyl bromide for treatment of outdoor land to control soil-borne fungal pathogens and weeds.
A contractor-applied treatment involving dual application of dazomet and metam-sodium was evaluated in Eastern England.
Soils were smear-sealed and either left uncovered or covered with polythene for 7-14 days to retain gases.
Treatment efficacy against fungi was determined by assessing the viability of pathogens in infected stem pieces that were buried in the soil before application of the chemicals and recovered when a cress seed germination test indicated no phytotoxic residues remained.
In experiments on a silty loam soil, incorporation of dazomet in the surface layer at 20 g/m2 and injection of metam-sodium at around 25 cm at 20 ml/m2, with the surface smear-sealed, gave good control of buried fungi at 25-30 cm.
Control at 10-15 cm was generally less effective.
With a polythene cover, incorporation of dazomet in the surface layer at 20 g/m2 and injection of metam-sodium at 30 ml/m2 or greater resulted in 100% kill of Fusarium culmorum and Pythium sp., and reductions in Phytophthora cryptogea, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Variation in treatment efficacy with depth was slight.
Good weed control was maintained for eight weeks.
In an experiment on a sandy clay soil, at the above rates, efficacy against S. sclerotiorum sclerotia was good (97% control), while reduction of Pythium sp. in radish seed was moderate (53% control). Weed control at 10-15 cm depth was poor and a high population of fat hen (Chenopodium album) developed.
Growth of chrysanthemum and sunflower was enhanced by soil disinfestation.
This contractor-applied treatment is adjustable for different crops, growing systems and pest, disease and weed problems and has a relatively short turn-around time.
A contractor-applied treatment involving dual application of dazomet and metam-sodium was evaluated in Eastern England.
Soils were smear-sealed and either left uncovered or covered with polythene for 7-14 days to retain gases.
Treatment efficacy against fungi was determined by assessing the viability of pathogens in infected stem pieces that were buried in the soil before application of the chemicals and recovered when a cress seed germination test indicated no phytotoxic residues remained.
In experiments on a silty loam soil, incorporation of dazomet in the surface layer at 20 g/m2 and injection of metam-sodium at around 25 cm at 20 ml/m2, with the surface smear-sealed, gave good control of buried fungi at 25-30 cm.
Control at 10-15 cm was generally less effective.
With a polythene cover, incorporation of dazomet in the surface layer at 20 g/m2 and injection of metam-sodium at 30 ml/m2 or greater resulted in 100% kill of Fusarium culmorum and Pythium sp., and reductions in Phytophthora cryptogea, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Variation in treatment efficacy with depth was slight.
Good weed control was maintained for eight weeks.
In an experiment on a sandy clay soil, at the above rates, efficacy against S. sclerotiorum sclerotia was good (97% control), while reduction of Pythium sp. in radish seed was moderate (53% control). Weed control at 10-15 cm depth was poor and a high population of fat hen (Chenopodium album) developed.
Growth of chrysanthemum and sunflower was enhanced by soil disinfestation.
This contractor-applied treatment is adjustable for different crops, growing systems and pest, disease and weed problems and has a relatively short turn-around time.
Publication
Authors
T.M. O’Neill, G. Budge, A. Shepherd, T. Ratcliffe
Keywords
cut flowers, Fusarium culmorum, Phytophthora cryptogea, Pythium sp., Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Verticillium dahliae, weeds
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