Effect of Preplant Fumigation on Yield of Chile Pepper Infected with Root-Knot Nematode

Abstract

A field test was established in 1999 to determine the effect of preplant soil fumigation on yield of chile pepper in southeastern Arizona in order to give growers data on which to base management decisions. Replicated plots within a nematode-infested field planted with New Mex 6-4 chile in March 1999 were either treated with Telone II fumigant at 7 gal/A two weeks before planting or not treated. In a mid-season assay in July 1999, the effects of fumigation were evident in plant canopy growth although numbers of J2/cc soil were not significant between treatments (p=0.058). Differences in yields between fumigated plots and untreated plots were significant (p=0.014). The average yield in fumigated plots was 12.4% higher than that in untreated plots.