November 2024 - 33

SOIL HEALTH
CUTTING
CHEMICAL
FUMIGATION
Researchers studying natural method
to help strawberry growers
BY DOUG OHLEMEIER
ASSISTANT EDITOR
I
n strawberry farming, soilborne
pathogens have long presented a
challenge. Historically, chemical
fumigation has been the preferred
method of reducing harmful soil
pathogens.
However, new regulations are
making fumigation with synthetic
chemicals difficult for small growers
and farms close to public places.
Anaerobic soil disinfestation can be
used as an alternative to chemical
disinfestation. The technology can
be used in organic and natural
growing by small farms that do not
possess the technical capacity to
fumigate as well as in farmland
buffer areas.
Strawberry growers wanting
sustainable alternative disease
management measures could
benefit from research being
conducted by scientists at
Virginia Tech's Hampton Roads
Agricultural Research and Extension
Center (AREC). The researchers
are examining anaerobic soil
disinfestation (ASD), a method that
they say could revolutionize strawberry
farming through finding sustainable
approaches to disease control.
ASD works by depleting oxygen
levels in the soil during the treatment
period, producing toxic byproducts
that kill soilborne pathogens. The
majority of the disease-causing
organisms are aerobic or need
oxygen to survive and multiply.
ASD and fumigation both seek to
clean soil of pathogens and control
Virginia Tech doctoral student Baker
Aljawasim talks with growers about how
anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) can help
fight strawberry disease during Hampton
Roads Agricultural Research and Extension
Center berry field day. Photos courtesy of
Jayesh Samtani/Virginia Tech.
soilborne diseases. In addition to
pathogens, ASD also controls weed
seeds, insects and nematodes.
Urgency need
" There is an urgent need for the
adoption of sustainable alternative
disease management measures that
pose little threat to human health and
the ecological system, " said Jayesh
Samtani, associate professor for
Virginia Tech and small fruit Extension
specialist at the Virginia Beach,
Virginia, AREC. " ASD with beneficial
microbes could be an eco-friendly
approach to controlling diseases
and improving soil, especially in
limited sources, organic farming and
smallholder farming. In addition, the
use of ASD with beneficial bacteria
in agriculture can greatly benefit
integrated pest management (IPM)
programs, particularly in situations
where soilborne pathogens are a
major concern. "
FRUITGROWERSNEWS.COM | 33

http://www.FRUITGROWERSNEWS.COM

November 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2024

Editor's Letter
Pome Fruit: Industry initiative
Irrigation & Water Management: Maintaining grove water
Tree Fruit: Grove insights
Plums: Plum factors
Great Lakes EXPO News: Juice processing and berry fertilization
Great Lakes EXPO Schedule
40 Under Forty Class of 2024
Soil Health: Cutting chemical fumigation
Labor: Tree fruit worker decision sparks reaction
Tree Fruit Variety Showcase
2025 Fruit & Nut Growers Buyers' Guide
Organic Grower Fall 2024
Fresh Views: A team approach to plant disease management
Farm Market & Agritourism: Choosing the right market channel
Ag Labor Review: Candid discussions regarding ag labor dilemmas
Classifieds
Advertiser Index
November 2024 - 1
November 2024 - 2
November 2024 - 3
November 2024 - Editor's Letter
November 2024 - 5
November 2024 - Pome Fruit: Industry initiative
November 2024 - 7
November 2024 - 8
November 2024 - 9
November 2024 - Irrigation & Water Management: Maintaining grove water
November 2024 - 11
November 2024 - 12
November 2024 - 13
November 2024 - Tree Fruit: Grove insights
November 2024 - 15
November 2024 - 16
November 2024 - 17
November 2024 - Plums: Plum factors
November 2024 - 19
November 2024 - 20
November 2024 - 21
November 2024 - Great Lakes EXPO News: Juice processing and berry fertilization
November 2024 - Great Lakes EXPO Schedule
November 2024 - 24
November 2024 - 40 Under Forty Class of 2024
November 2024 - 26
November 2024 - 27
November 2024 - 28
November 2024 - 29
November 2024 - 30
November 2024 - 31
November 2024 - 32
November 2024 - Soil Health: Cutting chemical fumigation
November 2024 - 34
November 2024 - 35
November 2024 - Labor: Tree fruit worker decision sparks reaction
November 2024 - 37
November 2024 - Tree Fruit Variety Showcase
November 2024 - 39
November 2024 - 40
November 2024 - 41
November 2024 - 42
November 2024 - 2025 Fruit & Nut Growers Buyers' Guide
November 2024 - 44
November 2024 - 45
November 2024 - 46
November 2024 - 47
November 2024 - 48
November 2024 - 49
November 2024 - 50
November 2024 - 51
November 2024 - 52
November 2024 - 53
November 2024 - 54
November 2024 - 55
November 2024 - 56
November 2024 - 57
November 2024 - 58
November 2024 - 59
November 2024 - 60
November 2024 - 61
November 2024 - 62
November 2024 - Organic Grower Fall 2024
November 2024 - 64
November 2024 - 65
November 2024 - 66
November 2024 - 67
November 2024 - Fresh Views: A team approach to plant disease management
November 2024 - 69
November 2024 - 70
November 2024 - 71
November 2024 - Farm Market & Agritourism: Choosing the right market channel
November 2024 - 73
November 2024 - Ag Labor Review: Candid discussions regarding ag labor dilemmas
November 2024 - 75
November 2024 - Classifieds
November 2024 - 77
November 2024 - Advertiser Index
November 2024 - 79
November 2024 - 80
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/2025-fruit-nut-growers-buyers-guide
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-fgn
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/fgn-vgn-40-under-40-class-of-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyers-guide-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyers-guide
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyersguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyersguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyersguide-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2019
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com