Fumigants are often the primary material used to manage plant disease agents, soil-borne arthropods, and weeds in California agriculture, particularly in the absence of crop rotation. However, some fumigants have come under increased regulatory scrutiny and are therefore no longer available for use. We tested two biologically based preplant crop-protection fumigant alternatives for their effectiveness in reducing populations of Delia radicum (L.), a soil-borne insect pest of cole crops. Laboratory and field tests compared pest survival in untreated control soil with survival under anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), which is induced by incorporating a carbon source (rice bran or grape pomace) and subsequently saturating the soil with water. We also measured and compared the effects of standard grower practices (fumigation), ASD and biofumigation (mustard seed meal incorporated before planting), and untreated control soils on fly abundance, pupal survival, and root damage in Brussels sprout fields. In both laboratory and field studies, D. radicum pupal survivorship was reduced in ASD-treated soils relative to control soils. Pupal survivorship of Musca domestica (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), which was used as a proxy for D. radicum in some field experiments, was also reduced in ASD- and biofumigation-treated soils, when compared with untreated control soils. These results indicate that fumigant alternatives may provide useful insect pest management opportunities for compatible cropping systems.
How to translate text using browser tools
31 March 2019
Assessing Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation as a Control Tactic for Delia radicum (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) in California Brussels Sprouts
Diego J. Nieto,
Deborah K. Letourneau,
Lucy Toyama,
Janet A. Bryer,
Caitlin Slay,
Joji Muramoto,
Carol Shennan
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
Environmental Entomology
Vol. 48 • No. 3
June 2019
Vol. 48 • No. 3
June 2019
Biofumigation
Cabbage maggot
house fly
mustard seed meal