Land Preparation and Fumigation

New fumigants and nematicides are made available on a continuing basis. Consult local specialists or the Florida Nematode Control Guide¹ for the fumigant or nematicide most appropriate for your situation and also for the rates to use.

Soil tillage should begin early to ensure that all plant debris will be decomposed before fumigation (30). This requires 6 to 8 weeks and perhaps longer if large woody roots and stems are present. Decomposition can be enhanced with frequent tillage, moist soil, and the incorporation of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer (100 to 200 lbs. per acre of ammonium nitrate) into the soil (30). If plant debris is not completely decomposed, nematodes and disease causing organisms in the plant debris can survive the fumigation procedure. Frequent tillage of the moist soil also causes weed seeds to germinate and nematodes to hatch making them more susceptible to the fumigant. The should be uniformly moist but not wet at fumigation. Polyethylene mulch should be applied as soon as possible after fumigation. Only the area covered by mulch needs to be fumigated in the fruiting field, and all directions on the product label especially application rates, should be followed. Optimum soil temperatures, chisel spacing and depth, and waiting periods before transplanting should be obtained from the label or determined before application. Follow precautions on the label since most fumigants or nematicides are very toxic to humans as well as to soil pests.