February 2020 - 16

Metam sodium study shows placement key
Irrigation, placement and targeted pest all matter in fumigant effectiveness
By Bill Woodward
GUEST COLUMNIST
D
ecades of proven results show
that the widely used soil fumigant
metam sodium is a reliable tool
for suppressing weeds, diseases and
nematodes.
But recent field studies reveal new
findings about the importance of soil
preparation, soil moisture and precision
placement that are helping applicators
gain a greater understanding of how to
enhance metam sodium performance.
Results from more than 25,000 postapplication
soil readings, conducted by
NovaSource and several cooperators,
show that applicators can better match
metam sodium to the targeted pest.
Post-application measurements
KYLE COLEMAN
of
metam sodium presence in soil were
taken at more than 100 locations in
Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Nebraska,
Texas, Michigan, South Carolina and
Georgia over a two-year span. This
variety of soil types and growing
conditions enabled study participants
to gain a greater understanding of both
the product and the properties of the
soil where it is being applied.
For many years, a common
assumption has been that all fumigants
behave generally the same way upon
application. Many applicators have
thought that metam sodium acted as
a typical fumigant by moving widely,
deeply and evenly throughout the soil
profile. But it's not true. The insight
revealed in the NovaSource findings is
that precision placement is key because
metam sodium lacks mobility in the soil
because of its low vapor pressure.
" Metam sodium is an older product
and it seems like we should know a
lot about it, " said Travis Meacham, a
potato grower for Friehe Farms in
Moses Lake, Washington. " There
are some real interesting things that
we're finding out lately that are kind
of debunking some assumptions we
thought before about the movement,
STEVEN FENNIMORE
what moisture does with the movement
and how important placement is in
the ground. "
PLACEMENT
For years, growers have simply
chemigated or shanked metam
sodium - thinking the product would
move throughout the entire soil profile.
However, field studies show that vertical
and lateral movement are not happening
in the ways that many growers have often
assumed. In fact, when chemigated,
metam sodium is found primarily in the
top 4 to 6 inches of soil.
To do its job, metam sodium needs
to come in contact with the pest it's
suppressing.
" Different pests are found at different
depths. That's why it's important to
understand - and implement -
application techniques that enhance the
proximity of the product to the pest, "
said Kyle Coleman of NovaSource, who
spearheaded the study.
IRRIGATION LEVEL
Another
insight
from the data
Research done by Kyle Coleman shows that metam sodium injection levels vary based on
soil moisture rates. Graphic: NovaSource
16
Spudman.com
reveals the importance of moisture,
because metam sodium was observed
to move farther in soil that was
already pre-irrigated. To make sure
that metam sodium moves and to get
it closer to the pest, it is most effective
http://www.Spudman.com

February 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2020

February 2020 - 1
February 2020 - 2
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-september-october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-july-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-may-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-july-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/may-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/november-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/september-october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/july-august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/may-june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/november-december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/september-october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/july-august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/may-june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/november-december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/september-october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/july-august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/may-june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/basf-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/january-2019
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