Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Inspired solutions for the future of agriculture and the environment.
Learn More Program Areas

Fumigation Alternatives

Fumigation is a critical practice to control soilborne pests in some high-value crops. However, fumigants can pose health risks to pesticide applicators and if not used correctly, can move off-site. They are also very expensive for farmers to use. Researchers  searching for alternatives to fumigants have found that the use of certain cover crops or organic amendments can in some cases reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fumigation. This phenomenon has been long observed by farmers and scientists and more recently systematic approaches have been used to understand the mechanisms behind the practices.

Featured Publications

Biofumigant Cover Cropping in Potatoes: Dale Gies (Farmer to Farmer Case Study Series)

Yorgey, G.G., S.I. Kantor, C.E. Kruger, K.M. Painter, H. Davis, and L.A. Bernacchi. 2017. Pacific Northwest Extension Publication 693, Pullman, WA.

Mustard Green Manures

On-farm research has been conducted since 1999 to determine the benefits of mustard green manures and to improve their effectiveness. They are being used in irrigated regions of Eastern Washington to improve soil quality, control wind erosion, and manage soilborne pests.

Apple Replant Disease – Alternatives to Fumigation

Dr. Mark Mazzola, USDA-ARS Tree Fruit Research Lab, Wenatchee, WA. Website highlighting several publications on Apple Replant Disease.

Additional Publications

Advances in Brassica seed meal formulation and application protocol for control of apple replant disease.

M. Mazzola poster, December 2010, Wash. St. Hort. Assoc. meeting. A summary of the most recent field results using brassica seed meal mixtures.

Implementing Mustard Green Manure Crops on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation – August 2009

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

Role of native soil biology in Brassicaceous seed meal-induced weed suppression.

L. Hoagland, L. Carpenter-Boggs, J.P. Reganold, M. Mazzola. 2008. Soil Biology Biochemistry 40:1689-1697.

2008 Partial Budget Analysis for the Replacement of Metam Sodium by a Mustard Green Manure

Partial budget for fumigant replacement.

Brassica juncea seed meal as a fumigant in organic greenhouse production

Poster presentation – BIOAg Research Symposium 2008.

Effect of Mustard Seed Meal on Early Weed Emergence in Peppermint and Potato – Summer 2007

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

Green Manuring Mustard: Improving an Old Technology – June 2003

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

Green Manuring with Mustard: Improving an Old Technology

Green manure summary article in Agrichemical & Environmental News, June 2003.

Using Green Manures in Potato Cropping Systems

WSU Extension Bulletin FS218E. Revised 2016.

Mustard Green Manures

WSU Extension Bulletin FS219E. Updated in 2016

Some WSU Extension websites provide links to external sites for the convenience of users. These external sites are not managed by WSU Extension. Furthermore, WSU Extension does not review, control or take responsibility for the content of these sites, nor do these sites implicitly or explicitly represent official positions and policies of WSU Extension.