|
|
|
 |
Update on Field Tests for Preplant Methyl Bromide
Alternatives
As mentioned in the January issue of the Newsletter, Congress
appropriated an increase of $750,000 in FY 1996 to the
Agricultural Research Service for
methyl bromide work. Of that amount, $550,000 is being used to establish
projects in California and Florida for large-scale field tests of
potential alternatives to methyl bromide. Work is well under way in both
States.
Tom Trout (ARS-Fresno, California)
reports that plans are progressing in California for field-testing
cropping practices that have the best chance of success with
strawberry and perennial crops without use of methyl bromide. Teams of ARS
and University of California
scientists are selecting practices to incorporate into viable cropping
systems.
Because growing strawberries is very specialized, the California
Strawberry Commission is serving as liaison between the project and
commercial growers to arrange for land and production practices to be used
in the field studies. Production practices on the plots will closely
duplicate those used on growers' fields. A cooperative agreement with the
commission will help cover the high production costs. ARS and UC
scientists, and the commission, will cooperatively select practices and
set up and monitor the demonstration sites, located in the central and
southern coastal areas of the State. Practices on strawberries will
include alternative forms of preplant soil fumigation; improved management
of soil, water, and nutrients; and some exploraion of biological control
measures. Strawberry demonstration plots will be planted this
fall.
For perennial crops, representatives of 12 grower groups--including
fruit, nut, and vineyard growers--met with scientists in Fresno in January
to help scope out and prioritize needs and alternatives. This group will
meet annually to review plans and results.
ARS recently purchased a research farm in a prime orchard and
grape-growing area near Parlier, California. Scientists will take out and
replant peach orchards and vineyards on the farm over the next 2 years to
study the replant problem. Project funds will be used to cover production
costs of the field trials carried out cooperatively by ARS and UC
scientists. In addition, research costs of field trials conducted by Mike
McKenry and Becky Westerdahl, UC nematologists, are being covered by
cooperative agreements. Cropping practices to be demonstrated will include
ways to kill roots of the removed crop, fallowing before replanting,
fumigating with alternative chemicals, and managing water and nutrients to
maximize vigor of the young plants.
On the field tests in Florida, ARS is cooperating with the Florida
Fruit and Vegetable Research and Education Foundation and the University of
Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, according to
ARS's
David Patterson at Fort Pierce. Field scale validation of methyl
bromide alternatives for tomato production will begin with the fall 1996
planting season.
Five locations have been chosen: North Florida (Quincy), West Central
Florida (Ruskin/Palmetto), Southwest Florida (Immokalee), Southeast Florda
(Palm Beach County), and South Florida (Homestead). Grower cooperators are
currently being identified for these areas.
The primary methyl bromide alternative to be tested is Telone C-17 at
35gal/acre with Tillam herbicide at 4 lb/acre. Solarzation treatments
continue to be evaluated at Quincy.
[April 1996 Table of Contents]
[Newsletter Issues
Listing]
[Methyl Bromide Home
Page]
[ARS Home Page]
[USDA Home Page]
Last Updated: October 7, 1996
|
|
|
|
|
Last Modified: 01/30/2002
|
|
Printable Version
E-mail this page
