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Title: ALTERNATIVE FUMIGANTS FOR METHYL BROMIDE FUMIGATION IN TOBACCO AND PEPPER TRANSPLANT PRODUCTION.

Author
item CSINOS, A - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item Johnson, Wiley - Carroll
item Johnson, Alva
item SUMNER, D - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item MCPHERSON, R - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item GITAITIS, R - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: Crop Protection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Tobacco and pepper are high value cash crops in the Southeastern U.S. that require vigorous transplants free of pests. The fumigant methyl bromide is the standard pesticide used for broad spectrum pest control in these crops. However, methyl bromide has been reported to deplete atmospheric ozone. Therefore, metam-sodium, dichloropropene, chloropicrin, and dazomet were evaluated from 1992 to 1995 at several rates, alone and in combination, as alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation. Fumigants were applied in the fall and seeded to crops in the early winter. Nematode and insect pressures were low each year, but the trials extensively evaluated weed and soilborne fungi control. Metam-sodium alone at 100 gal/A consistently controlled an array of pests. A combination of metam-sodium (50 gal./A) plus dichloropropene (20 gal./A) plus chloropicrin (13 gal/A) covered with a polyethylene film controlled most of the pests, allowing optimum tobacco and pepper plant production and seedling vigor. A similar treatment not covered with polyethylene film but sealed with a cultipacker was not effective. Tobacco and pepper transplants were stunted by the highest rates of metam-sodium plus dichloropropene plus chloropicrin. Pest control with many of the treatments, especially metam-sodium alone and metam-sodium plus dichloropropene plus chloropicrin, was comparable to the methyl bromide standard.

Technical Abstract: Tobacco and pepper are high value cash crops in the Southeastern U.S. that require vigorous transplants free of pests. Metam-sodium, dichloropropene, chloropicrin, and dazomet were evaluated from 1992 to 1995 at several rates, alone and in combination, as alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation. Fumigants were applied in the fall and seeded to crops in the early winter. Nematode and insect pressures were low each year, but the trials extensively evaluated weed and soilborne fungi control. Metam- sodium alone at 935 l/ha consistently controlled an array of pests. A combination of metam-sodium (468 l/ha) plus dichloropropene (187 l/ha) plus chloropicrin (126 l/ha) covered with a polyethylene film controlled most of the pests, allowing high transplant production and seedling vigor. A similar treatment not covered with polyethylene film but sealed with a cultipacker was not effective. Tobacco and pepper transplants were stunted dby the highest rates of metam-sodium plus dichloropropene plus chloropicrin. Pest control with many of the treatments, especially metam- sodium alone and metam-sodium plus dichloropropene plus chloropicrin, was comparable to the methyl bromide standard.