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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #200219

Title: MIDAS™ DEMONSTRATION PLOTS IN BELL PEPPER

Author
item Rosskopf, Erin
item Chellemi, Daniel
item KREGER, ROBERT - ARYSTA LIFE SCIENCES

Submitted to: Proceedings of Methyl Bromide Alternatives Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/11/2011
Publication Date: 11/6/2006
Citation: Rosskopf, E.N., Chellemi, D.O., Kreger, R. 2006. Midas™ demonstration plots in bell pepper. Proceedings of Methyl Bromide Alternatives Conference.

Interpretive Summary: Bell pepper production in the state of Florida has been highly dependent upon the use of the methyl bromide for soil fumigation. This soil fumigant has been used to control weeds, nematodes and fungal plant pathogens that can have devastating impacts on crop yields. MIDAS, composed of a 50:50 mixture of methyl iodide and chloropicrin, is currently under investigation as an alternative to methyl bromide. This material is currently being evaluated by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a broad-spectrum soil fumigant. A demonstration trial comparing methyl bromide and MIDAS was conducted in Saint Lucie County, FL on a commercial bell pepper production farm. Fumigants were applied on 19 January, 2006 and peppers were transplanted on February 13. Four rows 232 m in length (0.14 ha total) were treated with methyl iodide and eight adjacent rows treated with methyl iodide. Weed populations were assessed three times during the growing season on March 16, April 12, and May 10, just prior to fruit harvest. Data on weed emergence was taken relative to field location in order to assess if weed escapes were due to lack of efficacy or if they were related to application issues. Weed density was generally higher in the methyl iodide treated beds with more species being found in these rows than in the methyl bromide-treated areas. Goosegrass (Eleusine indica) occurred throughout the methyl iodide treated rows. Nutsedge (Cyperus spp.) in the methyl bromide treated beds was found only in the initial 45 m of the beds, coinciding with initiation of the fumigation application. Dog fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium), was present in low numbers at the second and third sample dates in both fumigant treatments, with slightly higher numbers in the methyl bromide treated beds. The incidence of Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, at 163 days after transplanting was 2.2% and 2.7% in adjacent rows treated with methyl bromide:chloropicrin and methyl iodide:chloropicrin, respectively.

Technical Abstract: A demonstration trial comparing MIDAS™ (methyl iodide:chloropicrin 50:50) to methyl bromide:chloropicrin (67:33) was conducted in Saint Lucie County, FL on a commercial bell pepper production farm. Methyl bromide:chloropicrin was shank injected into performed beds at 392 kg/ha using three 25 cm deep shanks spaced 30 cm apart. Methyl idodide:chloropicrin was shank injected at 336 kg/ha using the same application equipment modified to include a twelve-hole flow divider equipped with sight glasses and 3.18 mm diameter double wall tubing for delivery of the fumigant to the shanks. Check valves were installed on each chisel to maintain full lines. Fumigated beds were immediately covered with black high density polyethylene mulch (Pliant Corporation). Soil moisture at the time of application was estimated at 16-17%. Fumigants were applied on 19 January, 2006 and peppers were transplanted on February 13. Four rows 232 m in length (0.14 ha total) were treated with methyl iodide and eight adjacent rows treated with methyl iodide. Weed populations were assessed three times during the growing season on March 16, April 12, and May 10, just prior to fruit harvest. Data on weed emergence was taken relative to field location in order to assess if weed escapes were due to lack of efficacy or if they were related to application issues. Weed density was generally higher in the methyl iodide treated beds with more species being found in these rows than in the methyl bromide-treated areas. Goosegrass (Eleusine indica) occurred throughout the methyl iodide treated rows. Nutsedge (Cyperus spp.) in the methyl bromide treated beds was found only in the initial 45 m of the beds, coinciding with initiation of the fumigation application. Dog fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium), was present in low numbers at the second and third sample dates in both fumigant treatments, with slightly higher numbers in the methyl bromide treated beds. The incidence of Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, at 163 days after transplanting was 2.2% and 2.7% in adjacent rows treated with methyl bromide:chloropicrin and methyl iodide:chloropicrin, respectively.