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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #341666
Research Project: Develop Water Management Strategies to Sustain Water Productivity and Protect Water Quality in Irrigated Agriculture

Location: Water Management Research

Title: Field tests on biochar to reduce emissions from soil fumigation

Author
item Gao, Suduan
item DOLL, DAVID - University Of California
item HANSON, BRAD - University Of California
item STANGHELLINI, MIKE - Trical Inc
item Wang, Dong

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/11/2017
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soil fumigation continues to be one of the most important strategies for pest management in orchards. Although low permeability tarp such as totally impermeable film (TIF) has shown to be the most effective in reducing fumigant emissions, costs are high and tarp disposal is needed after use. The objective of this study was to evaluate if soil amendment with biochar can facilitate emission reduction. A field trial was conducted in an almond orchard with a sandy loam soil that was to be replanted and tested two biochar (Cool TerraTM) amendment rates (20 and 40 ton/ha) in comparison with TIF covering from injection of Telone® C35 (35% chloropicrin, 63% 1,3-dichloropropene, and 2% other ingredients). The fumigant was applied to 66 cm soil depth at 405 kg ha-1. Fumigant emission and distribution in soil profile were monitored. The TIF tarped plots gave the lowest emission rates only for the first five days following fumigant application. Biochar at 40 ton/ha with deep injection at 2/3 fumigant rate gave the lowest emission rates throughout a 30-d monitoring period, suggesting a great potential to use biochar as a mitigation strategy. More field tests are needed to determine more effective materials and rates of biochar towards adoption of the practice and determining the feasibility for use in orchards.