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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 7/2/2010 Publication Date: 7/4/2010 Citation: Wang. D. 2010. Application techniques for maximizing pest control efficacy of soil fumigants. In: Abstracts, International Congress on Soil Disinfection Technologies, July 04 - 07, 2010, Beijing, China Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Soil-borne plant pathogens can cause devastating yield and economic losses for farmers. These types of plant diseases are difficult to control because of their association with roots and inaccessibility with common pest control strategies. Soil fumigation is one of the most effective techniques for disinfecting soil from potential diseases and pathogens. The availability and choices of fumigants and methods of delivery will be discussed in this presentation. With methyl bromide being phased out worldwide, considerable research effort has been made to test efficacy of alternative fumigants and non chemical control approaches. The commonly available alternatives are commercial products including active ingredient of 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, or methyl isothiocyanate. Other products that are being experimented include dimethyl disulfide, iodomethene, and acrolein. Methods of application include the traditional shank injection with heavy equipment when large areas need to be treated. Fumigant application through pre-installed drip irrigation systems, as a form of chemigation, is also commonly used. For granular formation products such as dazomet, the chemical can be applied at the soil surface using a fertilizer spreader then incorporated in the soil by tillage. Pest control efficacy depends on the precise delivery of the fumigants to the soil depths where the diseases and pathogens are found. Choices of the right compound for a particular pest species to be controlled are also very important. Non chemical approaches include biofumigation or using sterile soilless growth media. However, considerable work is needed to enhance and demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the non-chemical based soil disinfection approaches. |
