Project Number: 0500-00044-020-15
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jun 20, 2008
End Date: Jun 30, 2009

Objective:
Optimize efficacy and reduce application rates of alternative soil fumigants used for the regeneration of sod production fields to new turf cultivars.

Approach:
Improving the effectiveness of alternative soil fumigants while simultaneously minimizing their environmental impacts can be accomplished by using increased soil exposure times to compensate for reduced soil fumigant concentrations. This study will demonstrate that improvements to solid tarp (broadcast) application methods will increase the retention of alternative fumigants in soil and their subsequent control of plant parasitic nematodes, soilborne diseases, weeds and off-type cultivars during the regeneration of sold production fields. The combined use of a seal at the soil surface, a low disturbance flat ground fumigant applicator and a virtually impermeable film (VIF) will be compared to the traditional full-tarp application method consisting of soil cultivation, swept back shanks and low density polyethylene film.