Implementation of anaerobic soil disinfestation in Florida tomato production

Authors: PAUDEL, BODH - University Of Florida; DIGIOIA, FRANCESCO - Pennsylvania State University; ZHU, QIANG - University Of Florida; ZHAO, XIN - University Of Florida; OZORES-HAMPTON, MONICA - University Of Florida; SWISHER, MARILYN - University Of Florida; SATTANNO, KAYLENE - University Of Florida; Hong, Jason; Rosskopf, Erin

Submitted to: Extension Digital Information Source (EDIS)
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/30/2019
Publication Date: 11/25/2019
Citation: Paudel, B., Digioia, F., Zhu, Q., Zhao, X., Ozores-Hampton, M., Swisher, M., Sattanno, K., Hong, J.C., Rosskopf, E.N. 2019. Implementation of anaerobic soil disinfestation in Florida tomato production. Extension Digital Information Source (EDIS). https://doi.org/10.1017.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017

Interpretive Summary: Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), is also known as biological soil disinfestation, is a non-chemical soil treatment that provides an alternative to chemical fumigation for the management of soilborne diseases, nematodes, and weeds. The approach, using organic soil amendments, was developed in Japan and the Netherlands for commercial farming and has been adapted by researchers in Florida for production of specialty crops, such as vegetables, berries, and cut flowers. The method is to the soil by incorporating a simple carbon source, like molasses, combined with composted or pasteurized broiler litter, irrigating the soil to saturation, and covering the soil with gas-impermeable mulch for a period of approximately three weeks. ASD is effective against numerous soilborne plant pathogens, plant-parasitic nematodes, and weeds by depleting available soil oxygen, shifting soil microbial composition to facultative anaerobes, lowering soil pH, and releasing organic acids and other volatile organic compounds. Farmer focus groups and the loss of recently registered soil fumigants has increased grower interest in the application of ASD.

Technical Abstract: Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), is also known as biological soil disinfestation, is a non-chemical soil treatment that provides an alternative to chemical fumigation for the management of soilborne diseases, nematodes, and weeds. The approach, using organic soil amendments, was developed in Japan and the Netherlands for commercial farming and has been adapted by researchers in Florida for production of specialty crops, such as vegetables, berries, and cut flowers. The method is to the soil by incorporating a simple carbon source, like molasses, combined with composted or pasteurized broiler litter, irrigating the soil to saturation, and covering the soil with gas-impermeable mulch for a period of approximately three weeks. ASD is effective against numerous soilborne plant pathogens, plant-parasitic nematodes, and weeds by depleting available soil oxygen, shifting soil microbial composition to facultative anaerobes, lowering soil pH, and releasing organic acids and other volatile organic compounds. Farmer focus groups and the loss of recently registered soil fumigants has increased grower interest in the application of ASD. Specific steps and calculations for the application of ASD are provided for bedded and broadcast production systems.