On-Farm Investigations of Stale Seedbeds with Biofumigation for Improved Management of Weeds and Soil-Borne Diseases in Chile Pepper

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Commodities

Practices

• Education and Training: demonstration, display, extension, on-farm/ranch research
• Pest Management: biofumigation, cultural control, integrated pest management, prevention, weed ecology
• Production Systems: Vegetable production, non-organic

We have been conducting independent lines of farmer-collaborative research that have
recently identified promising techniques for reducing hand hoeing costs and decreasing
incidences of soil-borne disease in chile pepper (herein “chile”). Specifically, our previous
studies have shown that: (1) chile weed densities and hoeing times were reduced by stale
seedbeds implemented during the summer prior to chile planting, and (2) soil-borne diseases
were less prevalent when a Brassicaceae cover crop (BCC) or mustard seed meal (MSM) was
amended to soil. Stale seedbeds, BCC and MSM soil amendments suppress targeted pests by
eliminating propagules in soil. Thus, we hypothesize that these techniques can be combined
to produce a single, integrated tactic for improved pest management in chile production. To
test this hypothesis, we propose to conduct on-farm studies to determine the effects of stale
seedbeds with and without biofumigation (BCC or MSM) on the ecology and economy of
weed and disease control in chile. Field study results will be used in economic analyses that
evaluate the costs of stale seedbeds, MSM and BCC relative to the economic gains in
subsequent chile production. Budget analyses will be featured in our educational outreach
program that will measure changes in attitude and knowledge on management tactics directed
towards pest propagules in soil. As a results of our outreach program, we expect that
participants will: 1) understand that soil reservoirs of pest propagules are malleable, 2)
recognize the importance of pest propagule density on pest control outcomes and pest control
costs, and 3) appreciate the benefits and limitations of management tactics directed towards
reservoirs of pest propagules in soil. As a result of this project, we will develop techniques
that improve the economic viability of chile production operations, and we will teach
principles and practices for sustainably depleting soil reservoirs of pest propagules.

The specific research objectives of this project are:
1. Determine the effects of fallow-season stale seedbeds with and without Brassicaceae
biofumigation on chile production factors including incidence of soil-borne disease,
survival of pathogen propagules in soil, weed infestation severity, weed management
requirements, weed seedbank density, and chile yield.
2. Use economic cost-benefit analyses to compare fallow-season stale seedbeds with and
without Brassicaceae biofumigation against conventional practice.