1997 Annual Report for FW97-011
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 1997: $5,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/1999
Matching Non-Federal Funds: $11,500.00
Region: Western
State: California
Principal Investigator:
Feasibility of Soil Solarization for Strawberry Production on the Central Coast of California
Summary
Soil solarization is a non-pesticidal method of reducing soil pests prior to planting high value crops. These producers, searching for an alternative to methyl bromide (scheduled to be phased out in 2001 in California but not in competitive areas) for controlling weeds and soilborne fungal pathogens, will investigate whether soil solarization will work as a means of preparing soil for strawberry production in two of the most important locations along the central coast. The results of this project should enable farmers to make an informed decision about the utility of this technique for this area.