Progress 09/01/00 to 08/31/03
Outputs
Strawberry production includes runner plant nurseries and fruit production. Evaluations were conducted in nurseries and fruiting fields to measure fumigant efficacy on soil-borne pests, fumigant emissions, and production economics. Nurseries. Strawberry runner plant plants are produced in 2 to 3 years of nursery production. We have tracked plants produced with methyl bromide alternative fumigants through two nursery cycles and one fruit production cycle during 2000 to 2003. Chloropicrin (Pic) alone at 300 lb/A followed by (fb) a sequential application of dazomet at 250 lb/A, produced runner plant yields (high elevation nursery) and fruit yields that were equal or higher than methyl bromide plus chloropicrin (MBPic) mixture. At low elevation nurseries, iodomethane plus chloropicrin (IMPic) mixture (50:50) at 350 lb/A produced runner plant numbers that were not different than MBPic (57:43) at 400 lb/A. Small plot fumigant evaluations in fruiting fields. The study
objective was to compare the efficacy of drip applied Pic at 300 lb/A or 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) plus Pic mixture at 400 lb/A with alternative fumigants such as IMPic at 400 lb/A or propargyl bromide (PB) at 180 lb/A and the standard MBPic for pest control in fruiting fields. Disease, nematode and weed control were evaluated. The most effective alternative fumigants were IMPic and PB which controlled Phytopthora cactorum, Verticillium dahliae, Pythium ultimum, citrus nematode, and weeds similar to MBPic. Production economics. The objective of this work was to compare production costs with alternative fumigants in commercial fields near Oxnard, CA. Fumigants were applied to the beds either through the drip irrigation system or with a shank injection system. Pic at 22 gallons per acre (GPA) and 1,3-D plus Pic mixture at 36 GPA were drip applied, and 1,3-D plus Pic mixture at 33 GPA, Pic at 22 GPA, and MBPic at 375 lb/A were shank applied. Five days after the initial fumigant
application, metam sodium (MS) at 45 GPA was applied to one set of plots while no MS was applied to the other set. Virtually impermeable films (VIF) were applied to one set of plots and standard films were applied to the other set. Weed counts and weeding times were measured four times per season. Alternative treatments had higher fumigant and weeding costs than MBPic, and lower revenues. The effects of using VIF and sequentially applying MS on the cost per pound of marketable strawberries harvested varied by fumigant. Regardless of which tarp was used, the application of MS lowered the cost per pound for drip and shank applied Pic. Regardless of whether or not MS was used, the use of VIF increased the cost per pound for Pic. The picture is less clear for 1,3-D products. For drip applied 1,3-D plus Pic mixture, the use of VIF was cost-effective regardless of whether or not MS was applied. In contrast, the application of MS increased costs when VIF was used, but decreased costs when
standard tarp was used. For shank applied 1,3-D plus Pic mixture, the use of VIF was cost-effective without MS, but less cost-effective with MS.
Impacts
Methyl bromide is the basis for control of soil-borne diseases, nematodes and weeds in Californias $991 million strawberry industry. We have developed effective alternative fumigant systems, and have assessed their economic viability.
Publications
- GOODHUE, R.E., FENNIMORE, S.A. and AJWA, H.A. 2003 The role of economics in multi-disciplinary research and policy analysis: economically viable alternatives to methyl bromide in California strawberry production. Review of Agricultural Economics (in press).
- KABIR, Z., FENNIMORE, S., MARTIN, F., AJWA, H., DUNIWAY, J., BROWNE, G., WINTERBOTTOM, C., WESTERDAHL, B., GOODHUE, R., GUERRO, L., and HAAR, M. 2003. Alternative fumigants for the control of soil pests: strawberry as a model system. Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. San Diego, CA. Abstract 125.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
The methyl bromide phase-out will have far reaching effects on the production of strawberry. Strawberry production includes two sectors: runner plant production nurseries and fruit production. Fumigant evaluations in California strawberry nurseries and fruiting fields were conducted in the 2001-02 season to evaluate fumigant efficacy on soil-borne diseases, nematode and weeds. Fumigant emissions and dispersal, as well as economic effects on production practices associated with the alternative fumigants were also evaluated. Methods: nurseries. Alternative fumigants were evaluated in 2002 at a high elevation strawberry nursery near MacDoel, CA. Treatments applied were chloropicrin alone (Pic) at 300 lb/A followed by (fb) a sequential application of dazomet at 250 lb/A, 65 percent 1,3-dichloropropene plus 35 percent Pic (Telone C35) at 386 lb/A fb dazomet at 250 lb/A, and 50 percent iodomethane plus 50 percent chloropicrin mixture (IM/Pic) at 400 lb/A. The commercial
standard was 57 percent methyl bromide plus 43 percent chloropicrin mixture (MB/Pic) at 400 lb/A. All treatments were shank-injected except dazomet that was applied with a granular spreader. Methods: small plot fumigant evaluations in fruiting fields. The objective was to compare the efficacy of immediate-term alternative fumigants such as Pic or Telone C35 with short-term alternative fumigants such as IM/Pic or propargyl bromide (PB). Studies were in Oxnard and Watsonville, CA. Drip-applied treatments include Pic plus emulsifier (Pic EC) at 300 lb/A, 62 percent 1,3-dichloropropene plus 35 percent Pic plus an emulsifier (Inline) at 400 lb/A, IM/Pic at 400 lb/A and PB at 180 lb/A. Drip-applied fumigants were applied through two drip lines per bed. The standard was shank applied MB/Pic 67:33 at 275 to 375 lb/A. Methods: large-scale fumigant evaluation. A study was initiated in a fruit production field near Oxnard, CA to measure commercial-scale weeding costs. Drip-applied treatments
were: Pic EC at 300 lb/A and Inline at 400 lb/A. The commercial standard was MB/Pic at 375 lb/A. Pic EC and Inline were applied under standard or virtually impermeable film, and with or without a sequential application of metam sodium at 45 gallons per acre. Metam sodium was applied 5 days after Inline or Pic EC were applied. Weed counts and weeding times were measured periodically. Significant findings.1.Pic followed by dazomet was an effective treatment in strawberry nurseries. Daughter plants produced with treatment were as productive in fruiting fields as plants produced with MB/Pic. 2.The level of nematode, soil borne disease and weed control provided by IM/Pic, Telone C35, Inline and PB, did not differ from MB/Pic. 3.Pic alone was often less active on citrus nematode and weeds than MB/Pic. 4. Relative to MB/Pic, net returns in strawberry nurseries will likely be reduced with the alternative fumigants. A sequential application of Pic followed by metam sodium was an effective
method to reduce weeding costs where Pic was used as the base fumigant. Sequential applications of metam sodium or the use of VIF plastic were effective methods to reduce weeding costs where Inline was used as the base fumigant.
Impacts
Methyl bromide is the basis for control of soil-borne diseases, nematodes and weeds in California's $889 million strawberry industry. We have developed effective alternative fumigant systems, and are currently assessing their economic viability.
Publications
- AJWA, H., TROUT, T., FENNIMORE, S.A., WINTERBOTTOM, C.Q., MARTIN, F.N., DUNIWAY, J.M., BROWNE, G., WESTERDAHL, B.B., GOODHUE, R., and GUERRERO, L. 2002. Strawberry production with alternative fumigants applied through drip irrigation systems. Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. Orlando, FL. Abstract 14.
- FENNIMORE, S.A., AJWA, H., HAAR, M.J., ROTH, K., and VALDEZ, J.A. 2002. Weed control with alternative fumigants. Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. Orlando, FL. Abstract 5.
- FENNIMORE, S., MARTIN, F., AJWA, H., DUNIWAY, J., BROWNE, G., WINTERBOTTOM, C., WESTERDAHL, B., GOODHUE, R., GUERRO, L., and HAAR, M. 2002. Alternative fumigants for the control of soil pests: strawberry as a model system. Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. Orlando, FL. Abstract 87.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
Fumigant evaluations in strawberry nurseries and fruiting fields were conducted in the 2000-01 season to evaluate fumigant efficacy on soil-borne diseases, nematode and weeds. Fumigant emissions and dispersal, as well as economic effects on production practices associated with the alternative fumigants were also evaluated. Materials and methods nurseries. The efficacy of alternative fumigants were compared to methyl bromide in the spring and summer of 2001 at two California strawberry nurseries. At the Ballico, CA site iodomethane plus chloropicrin mixture 50:50 (IM/Pic) was applied at 350 lbs. per acre (lb/A), and methyl bromide plus chloropicrin mixture 67:33 (MB/Pic), was applied at 400 lb/A. Treatments applied at the MacDoel, CA site were chloropicrin alone (Pic) at 300 lb/A followed by (fb) a sequential application of dazomet at 250 lb/A, 1,3-dichloropropene plus Pic (Telone C35) at 386 lb/A fb dazomet at 250 lb/A, IM/Pic at 350 lb/A, and MB/Pic at 400 lb/A. All
treatments except dazomet were shank-injected. Dazomet was applied with a granular spreader. Small plot fumigant evaluations in fruiting fields methods. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of immediate-term alternative fumigants such as Pic or Telone C35 with short-term alternative fumigants such as IM/Pic or propargyl bromide (PB). Studies were located in Oxnard and Watsonville, CA. Drip-applied treatments include Pic at 300 lb/A, 1,3-dichloropropene plus Pic plus an emulsifier (Inline) at 400 lb/A, IM/Pic 50:50 at 400 lb/A and PB at 180 lb/A. Drip-applied fumigants were applied through two drip lines per bed. The standard was shank applied MB/Pic 67:33 at 375 lb/A. Large-scale fumigant evaluation at Oxnard: methods. A study was initiated in a fruit production field near Oxnard, CA to measure weeding costs. Drip-applied treatments were: Pic plus an emulsifier (Pic EC) at 327 lb/A and Inline at 355 lb/A. Shank-applied materials were Telone C35 at 400 lb/A, Pic at
200 lb/A and MBPic at 250 lb/A. A sequential application of metam sodium at 37 GPA was applied to one set of Inline, Pic, Pic EC and Telone C35 plots while no metam was applied to the other set. Metam sodium was applied 5 days after the initial drip- or shank-applied materials were injected. Weed counts and weeding times were measured periodically.Significant findings.1.The level of nematode, soil borne disease and weed control provided by IM/Pic, Telone C35, Inline and PB, did not differ from MB/Pic.2.Pic was less active on citrus nematode than MB/Pic.3.Pic provided weed control that did not differ from MB/Pic.4.Weeding costs with Pic were greater than for MB/Pic.5.Sequential applications of metam sodium following Pic, Telone C35 or Inline were not justified in terms of reduced weeding cost compared to Pic, Telone C35 or Inline without metam sodium.
Impacts
Methyl bromide is the basis for control of soil-borne diseases, nematodes and weeds in California strawberries. It is imperative that alternative fumigant programs be developed to protect California's $889 million strawberry industry.
Publications
- AJWA, H., TROUT, T., S. NELSON and M. SCHUTTER. 2001. Drip fumigation: water and fumigant distribution in soil. Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. San Diego, CA. Abstract 50.
- BROWNE, G.T., H.E. BECHERER, M.R. VAZQUEZ, S.A. MCGLAUGHLIN, R.J. WAKEMAN, C.Q. WINTERBOTTOM, J.M. DUNIWAY, and S.A. FENNIMORE. 2001. Outlook for managing Phytopthora diseases on California strawberries without methyl bromide. Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. San Diego, CA. Abstract 29.
- DUNIWAY, J.M., J.J. HAO, D.M. DOPKINS, H. AJWA, and G.T. BROWNE. 2001. Chemical, cultural and biological alternatives to methyl bromide for strawberry. Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. San Diego, CA. Abstract 41.
- FENNIMORE, S. M. HAAR and H. AJWA. 2001. Alternative fumigant efficacy on weeds in strawberry nursery and fruiting fields. Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. San Diego, CA. Abstract 39.
- FENNIMORE, S., F. MARTIN, J. DUNIWAY, G. BROWNE, H. AJWA, C. WINTERBOTTOM, B. WESTERDAHL, R. GOODHUE, M. HAAR, and C. BULL. 2001. Alternative fumigants for the control of soil pests: strawberry as a model system. Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. San Diego, CA. Abstract 96.
- HAAR, M, S. FENNIMORE and H. AJWA. 2001. Weed control efficacy of drip irrigation applied chloropicrin, metam sodium and 1,3-D. Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. San Diego, CA. Abstract 90.
- MARTIN, F.M. 2001. Management of pathogens associated with black root rot of strawberry. Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. San Diego, CA. Abstract 46.
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
This project will evaluate the efficacy of several alternative soil fumigants on soil-borne diseases, nematodes and weeds. Studies are in progress at strawberry nurseries and fruiting fields to evaluate long-term effects of soil fumigants on plant health. Fumigant emissions and dispersal, as well as economic effects on production practices associated with the alternative fumigants are being evaluated. MacDoel. Fumigation was conducted at a nursery site in MacDoel, California. Treatments applied on August 26, 2000 were (rates are in pounds per acre): (1) iodomethane/chloropicrin at 350, (2) methyl bromide/chloropicrin 400, (3) 1,3-D/chloropicrin at 343 followed by dazomet at 250, (4) chloropicrin at 300 followed by dazomet at 250, (5) untreated control. All treatments except dazomet were shank injected. Dazomet was spread to the soil surface, and then sprinkler incorporated. Pathogen and weed seed samples were installed prior to fumigation, and then removed after
fumigation. Sample analysis is currently in progress. Alternative fumigant evaluations are being conducted at Oxnard and Watsonville, California. Investigations in progress at both locations include: (1) small plot fumigant evaluations, (2) large block fumigant evaluations, and (3) nursery plant health evaluations. Small plot fumigant evaluations. The objective of these studies is to compare the efficacy of several immediate- and short-term alternative fumigants with methyl bromide. Fumigant evaluations were initiated August 10, 2000 at Watsonville and September 1, 2000 at Oxnard. Treatments applied were: (1) Methyl bromide/chloropicrin at 375 (Oxnard) or 250 (Watsonville), (2) untreated control, (3) chloropicrin at 300, (4) 1,3-D/chloropicrin at 400, (5) iodomethane/chloropicrin at 400, and (6) propargyl bromide at 180. Disease, nematode and weed seed samples were installed prior to fumigation, and then removed after fumigation. Sample analysis is currently in progress.Large block
fumigant evaluations. The objective of these studies is to gather production cost data for the alternative fumigants. Fumigants were applied to 2 to 3 acre blocks, so that cost estimates will be based on production-scale blocks. Evaluations were initiated August 30, 2000 at Oxnard and August 31, at Watsonville. Fumigants evaluated at each site include chloropicrin (shank and drip applied), 1,3-D/chloropicrin (shank and drip applied), metam sodium and methyl bromide/chloropicrin as a commercial standard. Plant health evaluations. The objective of these studies is to evaluate the health of strawberry plants in fruiting fields that were produced at nurseries using alternative fumigants. The nursery plants were produced near Susanville, CA using: (1) iodomethane/chloropicrin at 350, (2) methyl bromide/chloropicrin at 355, and (3) untreated control. These plants were dug at Susanville on October 20, 2000 and planted at Oxnard on October 24, 2000 and at Watsonville on October 25, 2000 in
fields treated with chloropicrin or methyl bromide/chloropicrin. The plants were sampled for diseases and nematodes, before planting.
Impacts
Methyl bromide is the basis for control of soil-borne diseases, nematodes and weeds in California strawberries. It is imperative that alternative fumigant programs be developed to protect California's $889 million strawberry industry.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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