1 Use of Metam Potassium in Florida Plasticulture
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USE OF METAM POTASSIUM IN FLORIDA PLASTICULTURE PRODUCTION By KSHITIJ KHATRI A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2019 1 © 2019 Kshitij Khatri 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to thank my major advisor Dr. Nathan Boyd for providing me an opportunity to work on interesting crops and pests during my graduate studies. His guidance and support were very instrumental to achieve my research results. In addition, I want to express my gratitude to my committee members Dr Gary Vallad, Dr Natalia Peres, Dr Joseph Noling, and Dr Ricky Telg for providing me suggestions and inputs for my research. Last, but not least, my family and friends have made great contributions in helping me advance in my personal and professional life. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.............................................................................................................. 3 LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... 7 LIST OF FIGURES....................................................................................................................... 9 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................... 11 ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................. 12 CHAPTER 1 LITERATURE REVIEW...................................................................................................... 14 Florida Plasticulture Production ........................................................................................ 14 Common Soil-borne Pest Problems in Florida Plasticulture Production .................... 14 Charcoal Rot ................................................................................................................. 14 Fusarium Wilt................................................................................................................ 16 Root-knot Nematode RKN (Meloidogyne species) ................................................ 18 Nutsedge (Cyperus species)...................................................................................... 20 Broadleaf and Grassy (BLG) Weeds ........................................................................ 22 Planting hole weeds ............................................................................................. 22 Row middle weeds................................................................................................ 23 Soil Fumigation .................................................................................................................... 24 History of Soil Fumigation........................................................................................... 24 Methyl Bromide (MB) Alternatives............................................................................. 25 1,3-D and chloropicrin .......................................................................................... 26 Methyl Isothiocyanates (MITC; Metam-Na, Metam-K).................................... 28 Metam-K ............................................................................................................................... 29 Metam-K Application Technologies .......................................................................... 31 Shank application.................................................................................................. 31 Drip fumigation ...................................................................................................... 32 Three-Way approach............................................................................................ 35 Factors affecting Metam-K efficacy........................................................................... 36 Use of Metam Potassium for Crop Termination...................................................... 37 Use of Metam Potassium in Double Cropping ........................................................ 39 Objectives............................................................................................................................. 40 2 OPTIMAL RATE OF METAM POTASSIUM FOR FUSARIUM AND PURPLE NUTSEDGE CONTROL WHEN APPLIED THROUGH THE DRIP TAPE OR WITH A MINICOULTER..................................................................................................... 42 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 42 Materials and Methods ....................................................................................................... 44 4 Optimal Metam-K Application Rate when applied with a Minicoulter and Herbicides for Purple Nutsedge Management..................................................... 45 Optimal Metam-K Rate and Injection Duration for Purple Nutsedge and FOL Control when Applied through the Drip Tape. ..................................................... 46 Results and Discussion ...................................................................................................... 49 Optimal Metam-K Application Rate when Applied with a Minicoulter Compared with Preemergence Herbicides. ......................................................... 49 Optimal Rate of Metam-K and Injection Period for the Control of Purple Nutsedge and FOL in Drip Injection Application Method ................................... 51 3 PURPLE NUTSEDGE MANAGEMENT IN FLORIDA STRAWBERRY WITH HERBICIDES AND A MODIFIED FLORIDA 3-WAY FUMIGATION PROGRAM..... 63 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 63 Materials and Methods ....................................................................................................... 65 Results and Discussion ...................................................................................................... 67 4 OPTIMAL METAM POTASSIUM RATE FOR STRAWBERRY CROP TERMINATION AND WEED AND Macrophomina Phaseolina CONTROL AT SEASON END ..................................................................................................................... 72 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 72 Material and Methods ......................................................................................................... 74 High Rate Field Trial.................................................................................................... 76 Low Rate Field Trial..................................................................................................... 77 Results and Discussion ...................................................................................................... 79 High Rate Field Trial.................................................................................................... 79 Low Rate Field Trial..................................................................................................... 80 M. phaseolina control ........................................................................................... 81 Weed seed and tuber control.............................................................................. 83 5 DETERMINATION OF OPTIMUM METAM POTASSIUM RATE FOR WEED, TOMATO AND PEPPER TERMINATION....................................................................... 99 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 99 Material and Methods ....................................................................................................... 100 Tomato Field Trial ...................................................................................................... 101 Pepper Field Trial....................................................................................................... 102 Results and Discussion .................................................................................................... 103 Tomato Field Trial ...................................................................................................... 103 Pepper Field Trial....................................................................................................... 105 Pepper and purple nutsedge injury .................................................................. 105 Goosegrass and dogfennel injury .................................................................... 106 6 EFFICACY OF METAM POTASSIUM ON FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM, MACROPHOMINA PHASEOLINA, MELOIDOGYNE JAVANICA AND SEVEN WEED SPECIES ............................................................................................................... 116 5 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 116 Materials and Methods ..................................................................................................... 118 Inoculum Preparation ................................................................................................ 118 Fusarium oxysporum .......................................................................................... 118 Macrophomina phaseolina ...............................................................................