Validating broadcast application of Telone C-35 complemented with chloropicrin and herbicides in commercial tomato farms

Large-scale validation trials were conducted to compare a fumigation programme consisting of broadcast-applied 1,3-dichloropropene plus chloropicrin (C-35), in-bed chloropicrin (Pic) application, and the preplant incorporated herbicides pebulate and trifluralin, to in-bed methyl bromide plus Pic (MBr+Pic) injections in commercial tomato fields. There were no significant differences between the tomato plant vigor, height and marketable yields of both treatments. Similarly, both fumigant options effectively controlled the weed Cyperus spp. (<2 plants/m2). The nematode Trichodorus spp. was equally or more effectively controlled by the combination of C-35+Pic+pebulate+trifluralin than with MBr+Pic. These results indicated that the combination of C-35+Pic+pebulate+trifluralin can provide an effective wide-spectrum fumigant program to replace MBr+Pic applications in polyethylene-mulched tomato.