Project Number: 0500-00044-020-05
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 19, 2007
End Date: Sep 30, 2011

Objective:
1. Evaluate and validate the effectiveness of various fumigant alternatives, alone or in combination with various herbicide partners, to methyl bromide for nematode, disease, and weed control in Florida strawberry plastic mulch culture. 2. To identify key factors which contribute to within and between field variability and inconsistency of the alternative fumigants with regard to pest control efficacy and crop yield performance (i.e., physical, chemical, biological, and cultural factors). 3. Evaluate, validate the feasibility of using high barrier or virtually gas impermeable (VIF) plastic mulches to reduce airborne emissions and soil fumigant field application rates without serious compromise of crop yield or pest control efficacy.

Approach:
Individual farm locations will be identified. Growers will choose from list of recommended alternatives. Each grower agrees to apply alternative within alternating strips of treated field blocks, minimum replication of three replications. Overall, each grower agrees to a minimum area in alternative treatment of 1 acre MOL. Strawberry yield differences among treatments will be assessed. Growers must agree to allow continued field access for periodic performance evaluations and treatment comparisons during season. Grower must agree to complete end-of-season survey questionnaire / interview survey describing and rating differences in plant growth, yield, and pest control performance of the alternatives.