ISHS Acta Horticulturae 821: International Symposium on Tomato in the Tropics
METHYL BROMIDE ALTERNATIVES ON GREENHOUSE TOMATO CROP IN ROMANIA |
| Authors: | M. Bogoescu , A. Minuto, A. Amadio |
| Keywords: | soil disinfection, metham sodium, 1.3dichloropropen+chloropicrin, grafting tomato, corky root, nematodes, yield |
| Abstract:
In Romania, tomato represents the most important crop in greenhouse, generally adopting a continuous monoculture. Since crop rotation is rarely adopted, the reduction of yield both in quantity and quality progressively affects the crop, thus, making it necessary the adoption of soil disinfestations practices or other methods. Investigations at Horting Institute showed that after 4 years of continuous tomato monoculture a yield reduction up to 48% occurred. Methyl bromide is, probably, the only fumigant that is effective against nematodes, weeds, pathogens, insects, and rodents. The treatment of soil with methyl bromide was used only by large commercial farmers (107.72 methyl bromide tons in 2003). Since joining the Montreal Protocol, Romania government decided to phase out methyl bromide use starting 2005. The efficacy of the chemical fumigants metham sodium (100 ml m-2), 1.3D+chloropicrin (45 g m-2) and a non-chemical method (grafting tomatoes) were tested and compared to that of methyl bromide (75 g m-2) (standard control). Results of the demonstrative plots in 2007 indicated for the Romanian climate that the following methyl bromide chemicals alternatives were suitable for soil disinfection: metham sodium, grafting tomatoes, 1.3 dichloropropen+chloropicrin. Due of EU environmental policy on the medium or long term, the 1.3dichloropropen+chloropicrin utilization in European Country is uncertain. | |
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