Date of Award

12-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Plant and Environmental Science

Committee Chair/Advisor

Matthew Cutulle

Committee Member

Brian Ward

Committee Member

Bhupinder Singh Farmaha

Committee Member

Vidya Suseela

Abstract

Managing weeds is one of the most challenging aspects of growing specialty crops. Weed control options are limited for specialty crops due to absence of effective herbicide options. The limited current herbicide options risk carryover and damage to subsequent crops. Bacterial wilt is another problem causing significant yield losses in southeast vegetable production. After the termination of methyl bromide due to health and environmental concerns, several other chemical fumigants gained interest, including 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin and metam sodium/potassium. While less toxic to the environment than methyl bromide, these fumigants pose carcinogenic and mutagenic threats. Alternative weed control and diseases management tactics are needed. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) has the potential to fit into current pest management. ASD is a fumigation alternative, carbon source-driven soil microbial process that creates antagonistic conditions, such as microbial community shifts, production of volatile organic compounds, reduced soil pH and higher anaerobic conditions that can inactivate certain weed seeds and soil borne pathogens. Two experiments were conducted jointly at Clemson University Coastal Research and Education Center and USDA ARS vegetable laboratory, Charleston, South Carolina to utilize ASD for controlling weeds and bacterial wilt in tomato. The objective of first study was to evaluate the potential of various mix carbon amendments in ASD procedure to control weeds and Ralstonia solanacearum in native South Carolina soil in organic settings. The second study was carried out to test best ASD treatment from first study along with herbicide applications for Cyperus esculentus L. CYPES control. The results suggested that ASD incorporated with mixed treatments can effectively maximize weed and bacterial wilt management in tomato production. Additional research is needed to further evaluate these treatments via field trials with high existing pest pressure at multiple sites within multiple soil types.

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/ 0000-0002-1302-578X

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