ARS | Publication request: Irrigation Management To Reduce Soil Fumigant (Telone Product) Emissions

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: January 9, 2007
Publication Date: February 6, 2007
Citation: Gao, S. 2007. Irrigation Management To Reduce Soil Fumigant (Telone Product) Emissions. Meeting Abstract. NOTE: Left out of Proceedings by error.

Technical Abstract: Soil fumigation is an important management practice for controlling soil pests and enabling high yields of many fruit, vegetable, and nursery crops. Reducing atmospheric emissions is necessary to minimize the detrimental environmental impacts of soil fumigation. Telone (1,3-dichloropropene, 1,3-D) is an important alternative fumigant to methyl bromide. The standard plastic (high density polyethylene, HDPE) tarp is not effective to control 1,3-D emissions. Our research has found that management of soil water either by surface irrigation with sprinklers or subsurface drip application of fumigants can achieve 1,3-D emission reductions. This paper summarizes research findings from field trials designed to determine the effectiveness of irrigation to reduce emissions from Telone products that contain 1,3-D and chloropicrin (CP). Pre-irrigation several days before fumigation and intermittent water seals (applying water to the soil surface by sprinklers) following fumigation can effectively reduce emissions. Initial water seal immediately following shank-injection of the fumigants can reduce and delay emission peaks. Combination of irrigation with HDPE tarp also controls 1,3-D emissions effectively. Fumigation through drip-irrigation either with HDPE or water applications before and after fumigation resulted in much lower emissions than shank-fumigation. Further studies are needed on the potential effects of these methods on soil pest control.