ISHS Acta Horticulturae 255: III International Symposium on Soil Desinfestation
FACTORS AFFECTING THE EFFICIENCY OF METHAM-SODIUM IN CONTROLLING VERTICILLIUM DAHLIAE |
| Authors: | Y. Ben-Yephet, Z.R. Frank |
| Abstract:
Metham-sodium (MES) is applied via the sprinkler irrigation system to control Verticillium dahliae (VD) and other soilborne pathogens. The effectiveness of MES in controlling VD throughout the top 40 cm soil layer was influenced by mode of application of the chemical (concentrate vs. dilute); type of soil; soil moisture; and rate of water application. When MES was applied to soils with medium or high clay content in the concentrated mode (MES dissolved in the first 10 % of the irrigation water), the chemical killed VD throughout a deeper soil profile than by dilute application (MES dissolved in the whole irrigation volume), especially in poorly structured soil in which water percolation is slow. In a clay soil (54 % clay) with well defined aggregated structure which enables quick water percolation, MES applied in the dilute mode killed VD to a deeper layer than in a loessial soil (20 % clay) with a single grained structure (slow water percolation). Artificially reducing aggregate size of the clay soil reduced the soil depth down to which MES killed the fungus. When MES was applied in the concentrated mode, it was found to be important to irrigate a dry soil at a low rate of water application, in order to obtain uniform control throughout the treated soil profile. | |
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