AgroPages-Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences promotes chloropicrin-Agricultural news

Continuous cropping, improper pesticide application and damage to soil nematodes are the three major reasons for incidence of soil-borne disease. The Institute of Plant Protection (IPP) of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has cooperated with other institutions to develop and promote a soil fumigation method against soil-borne disease, which well suits China’s soil characteristics.

The technology uses chloropicrin, which is regarded as a special product for prevention and control of soil-borne disease, as the main ingredient. Being both fungicidal and herbicidal, the technology also stimulates soil activation and reduces the use of fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, the technology is of significant importance in protecting the ozone layer, as the traditional ozone-damaging fumigant methyl bromide is replaced.

Chloropicrin fumigation caused no secondary pollution when tested. A long-term study in US and Canada also showed no contamination to underground water. The technology has been widely used in US, Australia, Spain and Japan. The application in US has lasted for more than 60 years.

Currently, China has a protected agriculture of 45 million Mu, half of which is planted with the same crops for over five years, where soil-borne disease could occur. On the other hand, the area covered under the prevention and control of soil-borne disease is less than 200,000 Mu, which is below 1%. Thus, extensive efforts are needed to prevent and control soil-borne diseases.