TABLE CONTENTS

Soil Biodisinfection as an Alternative to Soil Fumigants
Díez Rojo, M.A. (1), J.A. López-Pérez (2), S.C. Arcos (1), M.R. González López (1), L.
Robertson (1), M.M. Guerrero (3), C. Ros (3), A. Lacasa (3), J.M. Torres (4), M. de Cara (4),
J.C. Tello (4) & A. Bello (1)
(1) Dpto Agroecología, CCMA, CSIC, Madrid; (2) Centro Agrario de Marchamalo, Guadalajara, JCCM
Castilla-La Mancha; (3) Biotecnología y Protección de Cultivos, IMIDA, Murcia; (4) Dpto Producción Vegetal,
UAL, Almería, Spain.
Spain was the fourth country in the consumption of methyl bromide (MB) in 1995. A total of
4,191 t of MB was applied as a soil fumigant to 8,988 ha of various crops, mainly strawberry
(33%), pepper (29%), cucurbits (9%), and cut flower (9%). Among the non-chemical
alternatives, biofumigation and biosolarization are outstanding, as is soil-less cultivation,
crop rotation, the use of resistant varieties and grafting, which are in Spain an effective means
of control when included in an integrated crop management system (ICM). The alternatives
cost less, are equally effective as MB, and do not pose problems in their application. The
critical use of MB for the year 2008 in Spain is 200 t only for strawberry nurseries. MB will
be eliminated as soil fumigant in the EU in 2009. In Spain, this reduction is due to the
development of biofumigation and biosolarization as alternatives in soil biodisinfection, for
both nematodes and fungi present in crop remains. The biofumigation has been applied to the
process where volatile toxic gases are released in the process of biodescomposition of organic
amendments, plant roots, and tissues and where such gases manage diseases, nematodes, and
weeds. Biofumigant materials can be solids and liquids, for that reason it is proposed the term
soil biodisinfection. The biodisinfection of soils is also effective in the control of weeds,
increasing soil fertility and soil structure through the use of manures and crop remains,
applying ecological criteria in crop production based on local resources. The results about the
use of this alternative in extensive open fields and protected crops are demonstrated.
Bio-fumigation Potential of Kava and Wild Kava for Managing Root-knot
Nematodes
Singh, S.K. & U.R. Khurma
School of Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, The
University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
Effect of kava (Piper methysticum Forst) and wild kava (Piper aduncum L.) on the root-knot
nematode, Meloidogyne incognita and host plant tomato was studied. Kava root powder, kava
peelings, kava kosa, kava stem, kava leaves and wild kava leaves were used as soil additives
in pot trials at 2% and 4% concentrations with pre-planting degradation periods of 0, 1 and 2
weeks. All the tested materials were able to reduce the number of galls when compared to
the control. Generally, higher concentration of the additives without degradation produced
greater gall suppression. Kava powder, kava peelings and kava kosa caused maximum gall
suppression but also had adverse effect on plant growth. Kava stem, kava leaves and wild
kava leaves on the other hand enhanced plant growth but had relatively lesser gall
suppression. Kava is not suitable as soil amendment at the tested dosage but can be exploited
for isolation of bionematicidal compounds whereas wild kava has the potential to be used as a
biofumigant. Further trials can be carried out using wild kava in combination with a stronger
gall suppressive and cost effective material such as kava kosa.
5 th International Congress of Nematology, 2008 133