Optimizing anaerobic soil disinfestation for fresh market tomato production: Nematode and weed control, yield, and fruit quality

Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is considered a promising sustainable alternative to chemical soil fumigation (CSF), and has been shown to be effective against soilborne diseases, plant-parasitic nematodes, and weeds in several crop production systems. Nevertheless, limited information is available on the effects of ASD on crop yield and quality. Therefore, a field study was conducted on fresh-market tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in two different locations in Florida (Immokalee and Citra), to evaluate and compare the ASD and CSF performances on weed and nematodes control, and on fruit yield and quality. In Immokalee, Pic-Clor 60 (1,3-dichloropropene + chloropicrin) was used as the CSF, whereas in Citra, the CSF was Paldin™ [dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) + chloropicrin]. Anaerobic soil disinfestation treatments were applied using a mix of composted poultry litter (CPL) at the rate of 22 Mg·ha−1, and two rates of molasses [13.9 (ASD1) and 27.7 m3·ha−1 (ASD2)] as a carbon (C) source. In both locations, soil subjected to ASD reached highly anaerobic conditions, and cumulative soil anaerobiosis was 167% and 116% higher in ASD2 plots than in ASD1 plots, in Immokalee and Citra, respectively. In Immokalee, the CSF provided the most significant weed control, but ASD treatments also suppressed weeds enough to prevent an impact on yield. In Citra, all treatments, including the CSF, provided poor weed control relative to the Immokalee site. In both locations, the application of ASD provided a level of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne sp.) control equivalent to, or more effective than the CSF. In Immokalee, ASD2 and ASD1 plots provided 26.7% and 19.7% higher total marketable yield as compared with CSF plots, respectively. However, in Citra, total marketable yield was unaffected by soil treatments. Tomato fruit quality parameters were not influenced by soil treatments, except for fruit firmness in Immokalee, which was significantly higher in fruits from ASD treatments than in those from CSF soil. Fruit mineral content was similar or higher in ASD plots as compared with CSF. In fresh-market tomato, ASD applied using a mixture of CPL and molasses may be a sustainable alternative to CSF for maintaining or even improving marketable yield and fruit quality.

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Economic Analysis of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation for Open-field Fresh-market Tomato Production in Southwest and North Florida

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech04332-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

pp. 777-787 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lijia Shi ◽

Jinghui Wang ◽

Zhifeng Gao ◽

Xin Zhao ◽

Francesco Di Gioia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Economic Analysis ◽

Open Field ◽

Large Scale ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Control Plant ◽

Labor Costs ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Soil Disinfestation ◽

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation

With the phase-out of methyl bromide due to its impact on ozone depletion, research has focused on developing alternative chemical and biologically based soil disinfestation methods. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) was developed to control plant-parasitic nematodes, weeds, and soilborne pathogens. However, whether farmers will adopt ASD methods on a large scale is unknown. This study evaluates the economic viability of using ASD in open-field, fresh-market tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production, drawing on data from field experiments conducted in 2015 in Immokalee, FL, and Citra, FL. The experiment included three treatments: chemical soil fumigation (CSF), ASD1 [the standard ASD treatment with 1482 gal/acre molasses and 9 tons/acre composted poultry litter (CPL)], and ASD0.5 (the reduced rate ASD treatment with 741 gal/acre molasses and 4.5 tons/acre CPL). Results from the economic analysis show that ASD treatments require higher labor costs than CSF regarding land preparation and treatment application. However, yields from ASD treatments are higher than those resulting from CSF, and the improvement in yield was enough to offset the increased labor costs. Relative to CSF, ASD0.5, and ASD1 achieved additional net returns of $630.38/acre and $2770.13/acre, respectively, in Immokalee, FL. However, due to unexpected conditions unrelated to soil treatments, the net return of ASD1 was lower than that of CSF in Citra, FL. Breakeven analysis indicates that ASD treatments would remain favorable even with an increase in the molasses price. However, when the tomato price is low, ASD could potentially lose its advantage over CSF.

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Evaluating anaerobic soil disinfestation and other biological soil management strategies for open-field tomato production in Florida

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170518000571 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 274-285 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Bodh R. Paudel ◽

Francesco Di Gioia ◽

Xin Zhao ◽

Monica Ozores-Hampton ◽

Jason C. Hong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Untreated Control ◽

Crop Production ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Alternative Source ◽

Root Knot Nematodes ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Soil Disinfestation ◽

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation ◽

Crop Performance

AbstractIn the search for alternative practices to chemical soil fumigation (CSF), anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) has proven to be a promising tool for soil-borne pest management and crop production improvement. The ASD treatment with composted poultry litter (CPL) and molasses (M, a labile carbon source) was identified as an effective approach for a biologically based soil disinfestation system in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production in Florida. However, environmental and food-safety concerns are associated with animal manure-based amendments, which led to the exploration of composted yard waste (CYW) as a potential substitute for CPL in ASD application. In this study, field trials were conducted in Citra and Immokalee, FL to examine the effects of ASD using CYW, CPL and M compared with a commercially available microbial amendment system on root-knot nematodes, weeds, fruit yield and quality of fresh-market tomato. Treatments included (1) ASD with CPL (11 Mg ha−1) and M (6.9 m3 ha−1) (ASD0.5), (2) ASD with CYW (26.9 Mg ha−1) and M (CYW1 + M), (3) ASD with CYW (13.5 Mg ha−1) and M (CYW0.5 + M), (4) Soil Symphony Amendment (SSA), (5) CYW (26.9 Mg ha−1) alone (CYW1) and (6) a combination of CYW1 + SSA, in comparison with (7) untreated control and (8) CSF (Pic-Clor 60 at 224 kg ha−1). Cumulative soil anaerobiosis was greater in ASD0.5 compared with all the other treatments. The root-knot nematode gall index ratings on the tomato crop were significantly lower in CSF, ASD0.5, CYW1 + M and CYW0.5 + M than untreated control in Citra. Although CYW1 and SSA alone had a moderately suppressive effect on weed coverage and root-knot nematodes, their positive impact on crop performance was limited when used alone. ASD0.5, CYW1 + M and CSF had significantly higher marketable and total fruit yields than untreated control in both locations, while all treatments showed promising results in the Immokalee trial in comparison with untreated control. In general, few differences in major fruit quality attributes were found. Although using CYW in ASD was not as effective as CPL in creating soil anaerobic conditions, the enhanced crop performance in CYW1 + M and CYW0.5 + M suggests the potential of using CYW as an alternative source of organic amendment in combination with M to achieve benefits similar to those obtained with CPL-based ASD.

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Quantifying the effects of anaerobic soil disinfestation and other biological soil management strategies on nitrous oxide emissions from raised bed plasticulture tomato production

Journal of Environmental Quality ◽

10.1002/jeq2.20324 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Zhuona Li ◽

Francesco Di Gioia ◽

Bodh Paudel ◽

Xin Zhao ◽

Jason Hong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Soil Management ◽

Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Soil Disinfestation ◽

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation ◽

Raised Bed

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On-farm evaluations of anaerobic soil disinfestation and grafting for management of a widespread soilborne disease complex in protected culture tomato production

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto-07-20-0288-r ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Anna Louise Testen ◽

Marlia Bosques Martinez ◽

Alejandra Jimenez Madrid ◽

Loic Deblais ◽

Christopher Taylor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Root Rot ◽

Black Dot ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Soil Disinfestation ◽

Soilborne Disease ◽

Disease Complex ◽

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation ◽

Corky Root ◽

High Tunnels ◽

Corky Root Rot

Tomato production in Ohio protected culture systems is hindered by a soilborne disease complex consisting of corky root rot (Pyrenochaeta lycopersici), black dot root rot (Colletotrichum coccodes), Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae), and root-knot (Meloidogyne hapla and M. incognita). In a survey of 71 high tunnels, C. coccodes was detected in 90% of high tunnels, while P. lycopersici (46%), V. dahliae (48%) and Meloidogyne spp. (45%) were found in nearly half of high tunnels. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) with wheat bran (20.2 Mg/ha) plus molasses (10.1 Mg/ha) and grafting onto ‘Maxifort’ or ‘Estamino’ rootstocks were evaluated in high tunnels on five farms. In post-ASD bioassays using trial soils, root and taproot rot severity were significantly reduced following ASD, and root-knot galling was also reduced by ASD. Soilborne pathogenic fungi were isolated less frequently from bioassay plants grown in ASD-treated soils than control soils. Similar results were observed in tomato plants grown in high tunnels. Root rot was significantly reduced by ASD in nearly all trials. Corky root rot severity was highest in non-grafted plants grown in non-treated soils, while the lowest levels of corky root rot were observed in Maxifort-grafted plants. Black dot root rot severity was higher or equivalent in grafted plants compared to non-grafted plants. Root-knot severity was lower in plants grown in ASD-treated soils in high tunnels compared to plants grown in control soils, but grafting did not significantly decrease root-knot severity. However, soil treatment did not significantly impact yield, and grafting led to inconsistent impacts on yield.

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Implementation of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation in Florida Tomato Production

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-hs1345-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 (6) ◽

pp. 5

Author(s):

Bodh R. Paudel ◽

Francesco Di Gioia ◽

Qiang Zhu ◽

Xin Zhao ◽

Monica Ozores-Hampton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pest Management ◽

Crop Production ◽

New Technique ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Soil Disinfestation ◽

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Production Improvement

Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a relatively new technique that appears to be a promising tool for soilborne pest management and crop production improvement. This new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department is intended to introduce ASD for Florida vegetable growers. Written by Bodh R. Paudel, Francesco Di Gioia, Qiang Zhu, Xin Zhao, Monica Ozores-Hampton, Marilyn E. Swisher, Kaylene Sattanno, Jason C. Hong, and Erin N. Rosskopf. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1345

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Dissipation of fomesafen in fumigated, anaerobic soil disinfestation‐treated, and organic‐amended soil in Florida tomato production systems

Pest Management Science ◽

10.1002/ps.5558 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (2) ◽

pp. 628-635 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Zhuona Li ◽

Francesco Di Gioia ◽

Jeong‐In Hwang ◽

Jason Hong ◽

Monica Ozores‐Hampton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Production Systems ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Soil Disinfestation ◽

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation ◽

Amended Soil

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Economic Analysis of Grafting and Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation for Tomato Production in South Carolina

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech04858-21 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Tanner Donahoo ◽

Lisha Zhang ◽

Matthew Cutulle ◽

Abolfazl Hajihassani

Keyword(s):

South Carolina ◽

Synergistic Effects ◽

Field Trials ◽

Chicken Manure ◽

Treatment Combination ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Soil Disinfestation ◽

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation ◽

Net Returns

Increasing regulations and restrictions regarding on-farm chemical use and growing consumer demands for organic food products warrant the development of efficient biological methods for plant disease control and pest management. Grafting and anaerobic soil disinfestation are two sustainable crop production techniques developed to control and regulate weeds, root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita), and soilborne pathogens. Therefore, the present study explores the economic impact of using grafting and anaerobic soil disinfestation, independently and in conjunction, to determine the best combination in terms of yield and net returns for producers. This study drew from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) field trials conducted in 2020 on a 0.5-acre plot at the Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center in Charleston, SC, where five grafting and three anaerobic soil disinfestation treatments were used in combinations for comparisons. Each treatment combination was subjected to sealed (plastic mulch covering a plot punctured 5 weeks after applying anaerobic soil disinfestation treatment) and unsealed (plastic mulch covering a plot punctured immediately after the application of anaerobic soil disinfestation treatment) plot conditions during the anaerobic soil disinfestation phase of plant bed preparation. Treatment combinations with cottonseed meal carbon-sourced anaerobic soil disinfestation were unviable because of lower net returns compared with treatment combinations without anaerobic soil disinfestation in nearly every case. Grafting (‘Roadster’ self-grafted) combined with molasses and chicken manure carbon-sourced anaerobic soil disinfestation under unsealed plot conditions was the most optimal treatment combination in the field trials with the greatest gains (net return per acre) to producers. The positive synergistic effects of combining these methods suggest that grafting and anaerobic soil disinfestation yield better results in conjunction than separately.

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ON - FARM COMPARISON OF CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC FRESH - MARKET TOMATO PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN CALIFORNIA.

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.6.621f ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 621f-621

Author(s):

Laurie E. Drinkwater ◽

Deborah K. Letourneau ◽

Fekede Workneh ◽

Marita Cantwell ◽

Ariena H.C. van Bruggen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Production Systems ◽

Disease Incidence ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Pest Damage ◽

Site Variation ◽

Pathogen Populations ◽

On Farm

Twenty commercial tomato production systems were compared in a multidisciplinary on farm study. The aim was to determine if organic (ORG) and conventional (CNV) systems differed in terms of agronomic criteria or indicators of underlying ecological characteristics. Field level measures of inputs, yields, fruit quality, arthropod abundance and management operations were made. Also, multiple samples within each field were taken to measure soil chemical and physical properties, root pathogen populations, disease incidence, and pest damage levels for multivariate analysis. Management effects on agronomic criteria (yield, fruit quality, pest damage) were small, whereas differences in soil N pools, microbial activity, pathogen populations and arthropod communities between ORG and CNV sites were sufficiently robust to be distinguished from site to site variation. Relationships between management, crop productivity and fruit quality will be discussed.

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