Weed Control in Strawberry Runner Plant Nurseries with Methyl Bromide Alternative Fumigants

Abstract

<jats:p>Methyl bromide alternative fumigants were evaluated for weed control efficacy in low- and high-elevation strawberry (<jats:italic>Fragaria</jats:italic> ×<jats:italic>ananassa</jats:italic> L.) runner plant nurseries. Preplant soil fumigation treatments of methyl bromide plus chloropicrin (MBPic), iodomethane plus chloropicrin (IMPic), 1,3-dichloropropene plus chloropicrin mixture followed by (fb) dazomet, chloropicrin fb dazomet, and a nonfumigated control were evaluated at three California strawberry runner plant nurseries through two production cycles. Fumigant efficacy was measured by weed seed viability bioassays, weed density counts, and time of handweeding. Generally, all alternative fumigant treatments controlled weeds at levels comparable to MBPic. All fumigant treatments, including MBPic, killed more than 95% of common knotweed, common purslane, common chickweed, and strawberry seed. Iodomethane, chloropicrin fb dazomet, and 1,3-dichloropropene plus chloropicrin mixture fb dazomet controlled carpetweed, common lambsquarters, hairy nightshade, palmer amaranth, and prostrate spurge. Handweeding inputs for all fumigants were similar to MBPic at three of four locations. The exception was at the low-elevation nursery in 2000 where handweeding times with MBPic were lower than for IMPic. Treatment and handweeding costs were calculated. The handweeding costs for all treatments were approximately the same. However, the higher iodomethane material cost resulted in a substantially higher treatment cost.</jats:p>

Analysis of Environmental Variables and Carbon Input on Soil Microbiome, Metabolome and Disease Control Efficacy in Strawberry Attributable to Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation

“…In initial trials, certain alternative fumigants were found to be effective methyl bromide replacements for soil-borne disease control in both strawberry fruit and nursery plant production systems. However, the economic analysis indicated that methyl bromide/chloropicrin was the most cost-effective treatment [ 8 , 9 ]. The elimination of methyl bromide and adoption of alternative fumigants corresponded with increases in crop losses from emerging diseases caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.…”

Practice in Nursery Weed Control—Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The research interests in nursery weed control have switched dramatically in the past 2-3 decades (1995-2021) from chemical dominant weed control to chemical coexist with other techniques. In the first decade, chemical weed control obtained the major research focus, specifically methyl bromide alternatives, due to the phase-out of methyl bromide (Keddy et al, 1996;Duniway, 2002;Cal et al, 2004;Enebak et al, 2006;Fennimore et al, 2008;Garcia-Mendez et al, 2008). Among the 267 pieces of literature, 27 focused on methyl bromide alternatives.…”

“…Not only research interests have changed dramatically, but also chemical products used in weed control. At methyl bromide phase-out times, the common tested chemicals included chloropicrin, metam sodium, 1,3-dichloropropene, iodomethane, dazomet, anhydrous ammonia, and their combinations with different formulations (Reynolds et al, 2002;Schneider et al, 2003;Gilreath et al, 2004Gilreath et al, , 2005Fennimore et al, 2008;Shrestha et al, 2008;Schneider and Hanson, 2009;Hanson et al, 2010). Some of those chemicals, such as iodomethane reached a 100% weed control efficacy (Fennimore et al, 2008).…”

“…At methyl bromide phase-out times, the common tested chemicals included chloropicrin, metam sodium, 1,3-dichloropropene, iodomethane, dazomet, anhydrous ammonia, and their combinations with different formulations (Reynolds et al, 2002;Schneider et al, 2003;Gilreath et al, 2004Gilreath et al, , 2005Fennimore et al, 2008;Shrestha et al, 2008;Schneider and Hanson, 2009;Hanson et al, 2010). Some of those chemicals, such as iodomethane reached a 100% weed control efficacy (Fennimore et al, 2008). Later, herbicides, such as oryzalin, glyphosate, flumioxazin, oxyfluorfen, pendimethalin, isoxaben, trifluralin, and their combinations become more widely tested, other herbicides that have both preemergence and postemergence effects, such as quinoclamine was also tested in different studies (Porter, 1996;Willoughby et al, 2003;Altland et al, 2004Altland et al, , 2007Altland et al, , 2008Altland et al, , 2011Awan et al, 2006;Judge and Neal, 2006;Qasem, 2006Qasem, , 2007Richardson and Zandstra, 2009;Wehtje et al, 2010aWehtje et al, ,b, 2012Rahman et al, 2011;Abit and Hanson, 2013;Ramalingam et al, 2013;Vasic et al, 2015;Marble et al, 2016b).…”

Evaluation of a Steam Application by a Mobile Applicator for Soil Disinfestation in Strawberry Nurseries

“…California strawberries are affected by soil-borne pests such as common chickweed (Stellaria media), common knotweed (Polygonum arenastrum Jord. ex Boreau), common purslane (Portulaca oleracea), little mallow (Malva parviflora), California burclover (Medicago polymorpha), Verticillium dahliae, Fusarium spp., Pythium ultimum, and nematodes, which are primarily managed by soil fumigation (Fennimore et al, 2008a(Fennimore et al, , 2008b(Fennimore et al, , 2013Samtani et al, 2011;Wilhelm, 1955;Wing et al, 1994). The California strawberry nursery industry is dependent on soil fumigants to control soil pests and enhance productivity (Kabir et al, 2005).…”