ALTERNATIVES TO METHYL BROMIDE FOR STRAWBERRY NURSERY PRODUCTION IN SPAIN

The Spanish Methyl Bromide (MB) Alternatives Project (INIA) has carried out experiments over nine-years in Castilla-León, Spain, for strawberry nurseries. During the years 1998-2006, more than 25 soil fumigant treatments (i.e., 1,3-dichloropropene+chloropicrin (1,3D:CP), dazomet (DAZ), metam sodium (MS), metam potassium (MK), dimethyl disulphide (DMDS), ethanedinitrile (EDN), propylene oxide (PO), sodium tetrathiocarbamate (ENZ), sodium azide (SEP), methyl iodide (MI), furfural (FUR), etc.) were applied during March/April in two locations. Planting of mother-plants, cv. ‘Camarosa’, was carried out in May and runner plants were harvested during October. CP alone, 1,3D:CP and DAZ compared well with MB for control of soilborne fungi. All the fumigants reduced the soil fungal population, but only MB:CP and DAZ caused a clear change in their fungal composition. Results suggest that while some chemical alternatives had similar behaviour to MB:CP in regard to weed control, all alternative compounds evaluated to date are inferior to MB due to inconsistent nursery yields.