Metam sodium （MS; sodium N-methyl dithiocarbamate） has emerged as a promising soil fumigant in the US to replace methyl bromide （MeBr）. Metam potassium （MK; potassium N-methyl dithiocarbamate） and MS break down ...Metam sodium （MS; sodium N-methyl dithiocarbamate） has emerged as a promising soil fumigant in the US to replace methyl bromide （MeBr）. Metam potassium （MK; potassium N-methyl dithiocarbamate） and MS break down into the volatile gas methyl isothiocyanate （MITC） to control soil borne pests. Many studies have focused on MS, but MK has not been studied as thoroughly. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of increasing organic matter （OM） treatments and soil texture to minimize the off-gassing of MS and MK. Bench-scale soil column studies were performed to simulate organic matter treatments that may decrease the volatilization loss of MITC. Incorporation depth of OM simulated surface tillage （0-15 cm） practices. Soil was packed in steel columns and MS or MK was applied at a depth of 15 cm and MITC volatilization was measured using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Volatilization of MITC behaved similarly for MS and MK with MITC movement impacted by soil texture. MITC volatilization was lower from a sandy clay loam than a sandy soil. Surface incorporation of OM did not significantly decrease MITC volatilization. These results suggest that soil texture is the dominant factor reducing MITC off-gassing and prolonging the time needed to control soil borne pests.展开更多
文摘Metam sodium （MS; sodium N-methyl dithiocarbamate） has emerged as a promising soil fumigant in the US to replace methyl bromide （MeBr）. Metam potassium （MK; potassium N-methyl dithiocarbamate） and MS break down into the volatile gas methyl isothiocyanate （MITC） to control soil borne pests. Many studies have focused on MS, but MK has not been studied as thoroughly. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of increasing organic matter （OM） treatments and soil texture to minimize the off-gassing of MS and MK. Bench-scale soil column studies were performed to simulate organic matter treatments that may decrease the volatilization loss of MITC. Incorporation depth of OM simulated surface tillage （0-15 cm） practices. Soil was packed in steel columns and MS or MK was applied at a depth of 15 cm and MITC volatilization was measured using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Volatilization of MITC behaved similarly for MS and MK with MITC movement impacted by soil texture. MITC volatilization was lower from a sandy clay loam than a sandy soil. Surface incorporation of OM did not significantly decrease MITC volatilization. These results suggest that soil texture is the dominant factor reducing MITC off-gassing and prolonging the time needed to control soil borne pests.
