CHEMICAL ALTERNATIVES TO METHYL BROMIDE FOR STRAWBERRY IN THE AREA OF HUELVA (SPAIN): 2002-2007 RESULTS

The Spanish Methyl Bromide (MB) Alternatives Project (INIA) has carried out experiments over ten-years in Huelva for strawberry production. More than 20 soil fumigant treatments have been evaluated on cv. ‘Camarosa’. The last series has been carried out in two locations of Eastern coastal Huelva (Moguer and Palos de la Fra.) from 2002-2003 until now. Treatments: MB + chloropicrin, 1,3-dichloropropene + chloropicrin (1,3D:CP), chloropicrin (CP) alone, metam sodium (MS), dimethyl disulphide (DMDS), ethanedinitrile (EDN), propylene oxide (PO), sodium tetrathiocarbamate (ENZ), methyl iodide + chloropicrin (MI), essential oils (EO), were shank-applied, or drip-irrigated such as sodium azide (SEP), furfural (FUR) under mulched (VIF film) pre-formed beds, or incorporated into the soil: dazomet (DAZ) and calcium cyanamide (CC). Treatments were applied in September and cultivation cycle was between October and the end of May every year. Black root rot complex and nematodes Meloidogyne hapla and Pratylenchus penetrans appear as the main phytosanitary problems related to soil. Our results supported feasible alternatives to MB with 1,3D:CP, CP alone or DMDS plus CP (DMDS:CP). In coastal Huelva, significant amounts of alternative fumigants have been applied to the strawberry crop since 2005, mainly 1,3D:CP, CP alone, DAZ:1,3D and MS. This activity has allowed 100% MB replacement rates in 2007. However some concerns remain due to the implementing of the Directive 91/414/EEC.