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Plant pathologists evaluate eco-friendly alternatives to methyl bromide
June 14, 2005St. Paul, Minn.-Alternatives to a powerful pesticide that was found be an ozone depletor are now being evaluated in agricultural production areas of Florida, say plant pathologists with USDA's Agricultural Research Service.
In 1987, the Parties to the Montreal Protocol called for the phase-out of methyl bromide, a soil fumigant used to control soilborne fungi, nematodes, and weeds of more than 100 crops worldwide. The phase out was based on methyl bromide's ability to deplete ozone and disrupt the UV protective ozone layer. The EPA determined that, under the Clean Air Act, this fumigant must be phased-out by 2001, but in compliance with the Protocol, the complete phase-out was scheduled for 2005. Currently, only uses deemed as critical by the international Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee can obtain the material.
Because methyl bromide is considered essential for the production of pepper, strawberry, tomato, and floriculture crops in Florida, scientists in many disciplines have been researching chemical and non-chemical methyl bromide replacements in the state's agricultural areas.
Soil solarization, a technique that captures radiant heat energy from the sun, is one non-chemical alternative to methyl bromide. Another non-chemical alternative is the use of biological agents to enhance disease resistance such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), which are beneficial soil bacteria that colonize plant roots and protect against disease.
"An integrated approach that utilizes biologically-based pest management tactics, such as PGPRs, soil solarization, and biological control agents combined with crop rotations and cover crops will be a necessity in the future," said Erin Rosskopf, USDA-ARS, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Fort Pierce, FL. "A multi-tactic approach is becoming increasingly important as many agricultural chemicals undergo intense scrutiny with regard to human toxicity and environmental impact. It is critical that research in these areas continues to move forward so that the next phase-out does not result in decreased vegetable or ornamental production in Florida and the rest of the U.S.," Rosskopf said.
Attempts to identify chemical alternatives to methyl bromide have led to the re-examination of existing soil fumigants. "While an emphasis is currently being placed on the short-term chemical replacements for methyl bromide due to the urgency driven by the phase-out plan, there is a need to be visionary in the development of more sustainable production systems for methyl bromide-dependent crops," said Rosskopf. A number of chemical alternatives to methyl bromide are currently being investigated for efficacy with several still in the registration process.
American Phytopathological Society
Soil solarization, a technique that captures radiant heat energy from the sun, is one non-chemical alternative to methyl bromide. Another non-chemical alternative is the use of biological agents to enhance disease resistance such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), which are beneficial soil bacteria that colonize plant roots and protect against disease.
"An integrated approach that utilizes biologically-based pest management tactics, such as PGPRs, soil solarization, and biological control agents combined with crop rotations and cover crops will be a necessity in the future," said Erin Rosskopf, USDA-ARS, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Fort Pierce, FL. "A multi-tactic approach is becoming increasingly important as many agricultural chemicals undergo intense scrutiny with regard to human toxicity and environmental impact. It is critical that research in these areas continues to move forward so that the next phase-out does not result in decreased vegetable or ornamental production in Florida and the rest of the U.S.," Rosskopf said.
Attempts to identify chemical alternatives to methyl bromide have led to the re-examination of existing soil fumigants. "While an emphasis is currently being placed on the short-term chemical replacements for methyl bromide due to the urgency driven by the phase-out plan, there is a need to be visionary in the development of more sustainable production systems for methyl bromide-dependent crops," said Rosskopf. A number of chemical alternatives to methyl bromide are currently being investigated for efficacy with several still in the registration process.
American Phytopathological Society
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More Methyl Bromide News Articles
 | The Methyl Bromide Issue by C. H. Bell, N. Price, B. Chakrabarti Written by international experts in the field, this book sets out the scientific arguments for and against the use of methyl bromide which is both naturally occurring and also a man-made product believed to have played a significant role in the depletion of the ozone layer. Methyl bromide is a widely used fumigant in agriculture, horticulture and the preservation of structural materials.... |
| Towards Methyl Bromide Phase Out by United Nations Environment Programme | |
| Report of the Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee (Mbtoc): 2002 Assessment (Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer) | |
| Methyl bromide replacement strategies by John Hathaway | |
| Protecting the Ozone Layer: Methyl Bromide Volume 6 by United Nations Environment Programme | |
| Methyl bromide to control insects in rough rice (Progress report / Texas Agricultural Experiment Station) by Ted S Brook | |
| Case Studies on Alternatives to Methyl Bromide: Technologies with Low Environmental Impact by United Nations Environment Programme Achieving the methyl bromide phase out is one of the last remaining challenges for ozone-layer protection. Since 1997, the search for alternative techniques has been on-going. This publication documents 18 worldwide case studies that illustrate non-chemical alternative techniques successfully used for major crops/commodities. Each case study presents information on the alternative technique;... | |
| Effect of methyl bromide treatment on response of a soil to stabilization with cement and lime (Miscellaneous paper - U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station) by J. D Stouffer | |
| Manual for Training of Extension Workers and Farmers: Alternatives to Methyl Bromide for Soil Fumigation by R. Braga | |
| Health effects associated with sulfuryl flouride and methyl bromide exposure among structural fumigation workers by Geoffrey M Calvert |
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