Plot Experiments at USDA-ARS Parlier

Shank injection of methyl bromide and Telone C35 in Treatment 3 – 6 was conducted by TriCal on October 23, 2007 and October 22, 2008, respectively. Telone C35 was injected with the modified Telone rig where the shanks were 51 cm spaced, each shank had two injection outlets one each on the two ends of a winged cross both at a target depth of 46 cm from the soil surface. Each wing tip was 12.7 cm from the center of the shank, so the actual spacing of chemical injection was 25.4 cm. Subsurface drip tubing was installed in Treatment 7 and 8 prior to each fumigation experiment, where the tubing was spaced 91.4 cm apart; emitters were at 76.2 cm spacing and 2.0 liter per hour per emitter at 103.4 kPa pressure. Drip application of InLine was carried out through the subsurface drip system on October 24, 2007 and October 22, 2008, respectively.

Click here for more details regarding trial design and setup. 

Project Objectives

1. Identify and characterize nematode and fungi control efficacy under different soil fumigation treatments,

2. Measure fumigant movement and distribution in the soil profile,

3. Measure emission fluxes from the soil surface or through plastic tarps from current and new fumigation methods,

4. Obtain growth and yield data from replanted grape vines.

Project Description

The first plot experiment was initiated in summer 2007 and repeated in 2008 and 2009 in a field (block 24 southeast in 2007/2008 and 24 southwest in 2008/2009 then 2010) previously planted with grapes that exhibited root damage from nematodes and/or soilborne pathogens. Existing grape vines were removed, and the field was deep tilled to approximately 90 cm. Eight treatments were devised and implemented in a randomized block design with three replications.

† HDPE represents high density polyethylene film, VIF is virtually impermeable film, Telone C35 contains 61.1% 1,3-D, 34.7% chloropicrin (CP), and 4.2% inert ingredients, and InLine contains 60.8% 1,3-D, 33.3% CP, and 5.9% inert ingredients.

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