METHAM FOR COTTON VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

Ron N. Vargas and Steve D. Wright

ABSTRACT

Metham is a soil fumigant which is used to kill germinating weed seeds and underground vegetative plant parts, as well as other living organisms in the soil such as nematodes and fungi. Metham is water soluble and upon contact with moist soil breaks down to form a highly volatile and toxic chemical, methyl isothiocyanate, which is rapidly dispersed through the soil in vapor farm by diffusion. This transformation occurs within 1 to 5 hours and disappears almost completely from the soil in 2 to 3 weeks. Metham has been used to effectively control weeds in vegetable crops such as tomatoes with interest in developing a program for use in cotton. Research results have indicated for cotton, a spray blade technique is best suited to our cultural operations as well as economic conditions. Control of both hairy (Solanum sarrachoides) and black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) has been excellent. One hundred percent control or nightshade has been achieved with 50 to 100 gallons of metham per treated acre. Nutsedge control has been somewhat erratic, due to its ability to germinate from deeper depths.





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Document last modified July 8, 2004