Methyl bromide alternatives … Soil solarization provides weed control for limited-resource and organic growers in warmer climates

Stapleton, J; Molinar, R; Lynn-Patterson, K; McFeeters, S; Shrestha, A

Methyl bromide alternatives … Soil solarization provides weed control for limited-resource and organic growers in warmer climates

Authors

James J Stapleton
Richard H Molinar
Kris Lynn-Patterson
Stuart K McFeeters
Anil Shrestha

Authors Affiliations

J.J. Stapleton is Integrated Pest Management Plant Pathologist, UC Statewide IPM Program, UC Kearney Agricultural Center (KAC); R.H. Molinar is Small Farms Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno County; K. Lynn-Patterson is GIS Analyst, Geographic Information Systems Facility, KAC; S.K. McFeeters is GIS Assistant, Geographic Information Systems Facility, KAC; A. Shrestha is Integrated Pest Management Weed Ecologist, UC Statewide IPM Program, KAC.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 59(2):84-89. DOI:10.3733/ca.v059n02p84. April 2005.

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Abstract

Organic farmers and limited-resource growers in the San Joaquin Valley and other agricultural areas in California—many of whom are ethnic minorities—encounter limited options and environmental constraints when seeking economically viable pest management methods. Over the past 8 years, we have conducted weed research and implementation projects on soil solarization at the UC Kearney Research and Extension Center and on farms in the surrounding San Joaquin Valley. In the Kearney studies, small-scale solarization in parsley reduced weed biomass 94% to 99% over the untreated control. Furthermore, in an on-farm study, solarization provided effective weed control for strawberries at a much lower cost than methyl bromide, with comparable yields. This research has provided guidelines and technical support for growers wishing to implement solarization and related techniques for nonchemical soil disinfestation in a wide variety of specialty crops.

References

Carter CA, Chalfant JA, Goodhue RE, McKee GJ. Costs of 2001 methyl bromide rules estimated for California strawberry industry. Cal Ag. 2005. 59:41-6.

[CDFA] California Department of Food and Agriculture. State organic crop and acreage report. 2002. California Organic Inspection Services, www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/fveqc/organic.htm .

Elmore CL, Roncaroni JA, Giraud DD. Perennial weeds respond to control by soil solarization. Cal Ag. 1993. 47(1):19-22.

Stapleton JJ. Soil solarization in various agricultural production systems. Crop Protect. 2000. 19:837-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-2194(00)00111-3

Stapleton JJ, Elmore CL, DeVay JE. Solarization and biofumigation help disinfest soil. Cal Ag. 2000. 54(6):42-5.

Stapleton JJ, Prather TS, Dahlquist RM. Implementation and validation of a thermal death database to predict efficacy of soil solarization for weed management in California. UC Plant Protect Quarterly. 2000. 10(3):9-10. www.uckac.edu/ppq.

Stapleton JJ, Prather TS, Mallek SB, et al. High temperature solarization for production of weed-free container soils and potting mixes. HortTech. 2002. 12:697-700.

[USDA] US Department of Agriculture. 2002 Census of Agriculture. 2004. National Agricultural Statistics Service, www.nass.usda.gov/census .

Also in this issue:

A Classification System for California's Hardwood Rangelands

Letters: April-June 2005

Collaboration fosters Kearney scientific achievements

Agricultural innovation marks 40 years at Kearney

“Farm to palate” postharvest research ensures high-quality produce

UC nematologists battle tiny underground pests

Lygus study validates treatment thresholds

Blueberry research launches exciting new California specialty crop

The future of California raisins is drying on the vine

Orchard-system configurations increase efficiency, improve profits in peaches and nectarines

Labor costs may be reduced …

Mulches reduce aphid-borne viruses and whiteflies in cantaloupe

Large bugs damage pistachio nuts most severely during midseason

Early harvest delays berry skin browning of ‘Princess’ table grapes

Reduced-risk fungicides help manage brown rot and other fungal diseases of stone fruit

Conventional and molecular assays aid diagnosis of crop diseases and fungicide resistance

Deep vadose zone hydrology demonstrates fate of nitrate in eastern San Joaquin Valley

Weighing lysimeters aid study of water relations in tree and vine crops

Ozone reduces crop yields and alters competition with weeds such as yellow nutsedge