Methyl bromide alternatives in tobacco, tomato and pepper transplant production

Metam-sodium, chloropicrin, 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), 1,3-dichloropropene plus 17% chloropicrin (1,3-D + C-17) and 1,3-dichloropropene plus 35% chloropicrin(1,3-D + C-35) were evaluated alone and together under a polyethylene cover as alternatives for methyl bromide in tobacco, tomato and pepper transplant production over a two-year period. Eleven different weed species, 10 genera or species of fungi, two arthropods and four species of nematodes were evaluated in three different sites. All of the fumigant candidates were successful in controlling some of the pests. However, metam-sodium alone and in combination with 1,3-D + C-17, chloropicrin, and 1,3-D + C-35 were the most efficacious. Seventy-nine different parameters were measured over the two-year period including plant stands, vigour, plant heights and control of weeds, fungi, arthropods and nematodes. Metam-sodium and methyl bromide plus 2% chloropicrin (MeBrC) were not significantly different (P = 0.05) from each other in 76 of the 79 parameters evaluated; MeBrC was significantly better than metam-sodium for three of the 79 parameters. The combination of metam-sodium plus 1,3-D + C-17 was not significantly different from MeBrC for 74 of the 79 parameters tested. MeBrC was more efficacious than metam-sodium plus 1,3-D + C-17, for two of the 79 parameters, and metam-sodium plus 1,3-D + C-17 was significantly better than MeBrC for three of 79 parameters. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.