Combining Soil Solarization with Conventional Chemical Fumigants and Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) in Florida Strawberry Production

Frank Sances, Balaji Aglave, Mark Keeley, Kaleb Williams, & Charlie Boone

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Introduction
​This "Proof of Concept" field demonstration  is intended to evaluate the suitability of using solar radiation to enhance soil borne pest control with Conventional Fumigants and Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation in commercial Florida strawberry production.

​Potential benefits:
a) Solarization and ASD are approved organic soil pest control options
b) Solarization with conventional soil borne pest control inputs may allow reduction in chemical usage
c) ASD is a potential waste recycling system

Methodology
Alternate use of clear plastic for summer solarization with chemical fumigants and ASD, then summer plastic replaced with black plastic mulch just prior to planting.  Crop finished with black mulch.

Summary of Findings To-Date

1. This preliminary study and early season results  are insufficient to fully evaluate treatment effects on soil borne pest management (Table 2) and total potential yields. Full season results will be available June 2022.
2. Clear plastic mulch used was damaged by warm soil fumigation which may underestimate the potential efficacy of fumigants applied during solarization (Data not shown).
3. Early season plant growth and root development  were numerically improved by solarization except in the K-PAM treatments (Table 1).
4. Nutsedge control was generally superior with solarized chemical fumigation, but ASD performed better under black plastic compared to clear over summer months (Photo & Table 3).
5. Total early season fruit yields (7 harvests) were similar among treatments, but lowest for non-inoculated solarized plots.
6. Conventional grower practice yields were highest overall, although ASD + Solarization was also high yielding (Chart 1).