Alternatives to pesticides in controlling pests and diseases©

Many California consumers and government agency regulators increasingly demand agricultural products produced with less, or without, use of synthetic chemical pesticides. As a prime example, soil fumigation with synthetic chemical toxicants now is seen as having decreasing compatibility with public safety and environmental quality. Alternatives are being developed and such methods must be shown to be effective, predictable, and economically viable. Active heat-based treatments are attractive options for soil disinfestation and certain elements of the biogeochemical environment, such as accumulation of passive solar energy and knowledge-based utilization of organic materials and byproducts, may be harnessed to provide economic pest management. Recent research and implementation projects on alternatives including biosolarization, biofumigation, and anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) will be discussed.