Research
Extension and Outreach of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) in the Southeast
Laying plastic mulch after applying the anaerobic soil disinfestation technique in treatment plots at the UF/IFAS Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, FL (PC: K. Sattanno)
Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) also known as ‘biological soil disinfestation’ or ‘reductive soil disinfestation’ is a pre-plant non-chemical soil disinfestation technique proposed as an alternative to chemical soil fumigation (CSF) for the control of several soil-borne diseases, plant-parasitic nematodes, and weeds in vegetable and fruit crops (Shennan et al. 2014; Rosskopf et al. 2015). Developed independently in Japan (Momma et al., 2013) and The Netherlands (Blok et al., 2000) for both open field and protected crops, the technique has gained interest in the USA, China and other countries (Shennan et al., 2014). The principle of the technique is to create a temporarily anaerobic soil environment to stimulate the growth of facultative and obligate anaerobic microorganisms. Under anaerobic conditions these organisms decompose the available carbon (C) source, which produces organic acids, aldehydes, alcohols, ammonia, metal ions, and volatile organic compounds that are suppressive or toxic for several soil-borne pests and diseases (Momma 2008; Huang et al. 2015; van Agtmaal et al. 2015).
The ASD treatment involves three steps:
- Amend the soil with sources of readily decomposable carbon and organic matter to initiate rapid growth and respiration of soil microbes just prior to forming the raised plant beds.
- Cover the plant bed with a polyethylene mulch that prevents oxygen from escaping from the soil surface (this maintains the anaerobic environment once it is established).
- Irrigate the soil to saturate the pore space and further reduce the presence of oxygen, creating the desired anaerobic environment in the soil (Butler et al., 2014; Shennan et al., 2014).
Researchers of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) in collaboration with researchers from the University of California and the University of Florida created the process currently under study in Florida. In this research, molasses is the source of readily decomposable carbon and composted poultry litter provides the organic matter. Totally impermeable film (TIF) is used as a mulch on the bed and 2 inches of water are applied to saturate the soil. The grower can punch the plastic and transplant the planting material three weeks after treatment application.
ASD has proved to be effective against several soil-borne fungal and bacterial plant diseases, plant-parasitic nematodes and weeds, across a wide range of crops and environments (Butler et al., 2012a; 2012b; Lamers et al., 2010; Momma, 2008; Rosskopf et al., 2015; Shennan et al., 2014). However, the mechanism of control is not fully understood. Researchers around the world are working to explain the changes that occur in the soil during the ASD treatment and how these changes affect the target pests and weeds. A major focus of research is to find ways to facilitate the use of this technique at a commercial scale.
Research Objectives
- Identify alternative low-cost and locally available carbon sources.
- Calculate the optimal application rate for each carbon source.
- Develop large scale application methods.
- Understand the effect of ASD on different crops – its impact on yield and product quality.
- Identify the short and long-term effects of ASD on soil fertility.
- Assess the potential impact of ASD on the environment.
Project Details
This work is supported by Research Project 0500-00044-001-00-D Area-Wide Management of Agricultural Pests, Crop Production and Protection, USDA, Agricultural Research Service.
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Activities
Research Assessments
Farmers and agricultural service providers evaluate the research design, treatments, and data collection and identify benefits and limitations of our research.
- the participants are told what treatments are being tested but they do not know which treatment is in each plot
- participants observe the field research plots and record their observations about plant vigor, weed suppression, pest damage, disease damage, etc.
- participants then engage in a facilitated discussion as a group and identify the most desirable and least desirable treatments observed
- participants then make recommendations for future experiments after the plot/treatment key is revealed
We hosted on-station research assessments at the UF/IFAS Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, FL in 2015 and 2016.
We hosted on-station research assessments at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee, FL in 2015 and 2016.
We hosted on-farm research assessments at local farms participating in the on-farm trials in 2019.
Journal Publications
Paudel, B.R., Di Gioia, F., Zhu, Q., Zhao, X., Ozores-Hampton, M., Swisher, M.E., Sattanno, K., Hong, J.C., and Rosskopf, E.N. (2019) Implementation of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation in Florida Tomato Production. UF/IFAS EDIS. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HS/HS134500.pdf
Li, Z., Di Gioia, F., Hwang, JI., Hong, J., Ozores-Hampton, M., Zhao, X., Pisani, C., Rosskopf, E., and Wilson, P.C. (2019) Dissipation of fomesafen in fumigated, anaerobic soil disinfestation‐treated, and organic‐amended soil in Florida tomato production systems. Pest Management Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.5558
Guo, H., Zhao, X., Rosskopf, E.N., Di Gioia, F., Hong, J.C. & McNear Jr, D.H. (2018) Impacts of anaerobic soil disinfestation and chemical fumigation on soil microbial communities in field tomato production system. Applied Soil Ecology. 126:165-173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.12.018
Paudel, B.R., Di Gioia, F., Zhao, X., Ozores-Hampton, M., Hong, J.C., Kokalis-Burelle, N., Pisani, C., & Rosskopf, E.N. (2018) Evaluating anaerobic soil disinfestation and other biological soil management strategies for open-field tomato production in Florida. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170518000571
Di Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M., Zhao, X., Thomas, J., Wilson, P., Li, Z., Hong, J., Albano, J., Swisher, M., and Rosskopf, E. (2017) Anaerobic soil disinfestation impact on soil nutrients dynamics and nitrous oxide emissions in fresh-market tomato. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 240:194-205. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.02.025
Guo, H., Di Gioia, F., Zhao, X., Ozores-Hampton, M., Swisher, M. E., Hong, J., Kokalis-Burelle, N., DeLong, A.N. & Rosskopf, E.N. (2017). Optimizing anaerobic soil disinfestation for fresh market tomato production: Nematode and weed control, yield and fruit quality. Scientia Horticulturae. 218:105-116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2017.01.054 0304-4238
Johns, C.W., Lee, A.B., Springer, T.I., Rosskopf, E.N., Hong, J.C., Turechek, W., Kokalis-Burelle, N., and Finley, N.L. (2017) Using NMP-based metabolomics to monitor the biochemical composition of agricultural soils: A pilot study. European J. Soil Biology. 83:98-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2017.10.008
Serrano-Pérez, P., Rosskopf, E., De Santiago, A. & del Carmen Rodríguez-Molina, M. (2017) Anaerobic soil disinfestation reduces survival and infectivity of Phytophthora nicotianae chlamydospores in pepper. Scientia horticulturae. 215:38-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2016.12.003
Di Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M., Hong, J., Kokalis-Burelle, N., Albano, J., Zhao, X., Black, Z., Gao, Z., Wilson, C., Thomas, J., Moore, K., Swisher, M.E., Guo, H., and Rosskopf, E. N. (2016) The effect of anaerobic soil disinfestation on weed and nematode control, fruit yield and quality of Florida fresh-market tomato. Hortscience. 51(6):703-711. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.51.6.703
Butler, D.M. Kokalis-Burelle, N., Albano, J.P., McCollum, T.G., Muramoto, J., Shennan, C., and Rosskopf, E.N. (2014) Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) combined with soil solarization as a methyl bromide alternative: Vegetable crop performance and soil nutrient dynamics. Plant and Soil. 378:365-381. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2030-z
Rosskopf, E.N., Burelle, N., Hong, J. C., Butler, D.M., Noling, J.W., He, Z., Booker, B., and Sances, F. (2014) Comparison of anaerobic soil disinfestation and drip-applied organic acids for raised-bed specialty crop production in Florida. Acta Hort. (ISHS). 1044:221-228. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1044.26
Kokalis-Burelle, N., Butler, D.M., & Rosskopf, E.N. (2013) Evaluation of cover crops with potential for use in anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) for susceptibility to three species of meloidogyne. Journal of Nematology. 45(4):272-278. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24379486
Butler, D.M., Kokalis-Burelle, N., Muramoto, J., Shennan, C., McCollum, and Rosskopf, E.N. (2012) Impact of anaerobic soil disinfestations combined with soil solarization on plant-parasitic nematodes and introduced inoculum of soilborne plant pathogens in raised-bed vegetable production. Crop Protection. 39:33-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2012.03.019
Butler, D.M., Rosskopf, E.N., Kokalis-Burelle, N., Albano, J.P., Muramoto, J., and Shennan, C. (2012) Exploring warm-season cover crops as carbon sources for anaerobic soil disinfestations (ASD). Plant and Soil. 378:365-381. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-1088-0
Presentations
Vincent, I., Paudel, B., Zhao, X., Black, Z., Swisher, M.E., Sattanno, K., Hong, J., and Rosskopf, E.N. (2020) On-farm Evaluation of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation for Organic Okra Production. Poster Presentation at the American Society of Horticultural Sciences Annual Conference. Orlando, FL.
Sattanno, K., DeLong, A., Donovan, M., Swisher, M. E., Paudel, B. R., Zhu, Q., Zhao, X., Wang, J., Gao, Z., Hong, J. C., Di Gioia, F., & Rosskopf, E. N. (2020) Improving Research Outcomes through Stakeholder Feedback. Poster Presentation at the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Annual Conference. Little Rock, AR. 2020 SSAWG ASD Poster
Sattanno, K., DeLong, A., Swisher, M. E., Paudel, B. R., Zhu, Q., Zhao, X., Wang, J., Gao, Z., Hong, J. C., Di Gioia, F., & Rosskopf, E. N. (2019) Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation: A Potential Alternative to Chemical Soil Fumigation. Poster Presentation at the Annual Professional Agricultural Workers Conference. Opelika, AL. 2019 PAWC ASD Poster
Ozores-Hampton, M., Di Gioia, F., Paudel, B. R., Zhao, X., Hong, J. C., & Rosskopf, E. N. (2017) Evaluation of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation Soil Amendments and Rates for Conventional Tomato Production in Florida. Evaluation of ASD Soil Amendments Rates for Conventional Tomato Production in Florida
Paudel, B.R., Zhao, X., Di Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M., Hong, J. C., Kokalis-Burelle, N. and Rosskopf, E. N. (2017) Evaluating anaerobic soil disinfestation and other biological soil management methods for open-field tomato production in Florida. ASA-SSSA-CSSA International Annual Meeting.
https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2017am/webprogram/Paper106866.htmlPaudel, B.R., Zhao, X., Di Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M., Hong, J. C., and Rosskopf, E. N. (2017) Using cereal rye as a catch crop to examine the residual effects of anaerobic soil disinfestation and other biological soil management practices following open field tomato production. ASA-SSSA-CSSA International Annual Meeting.
https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2017am/webprogram/Paper107177.htmlDi Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M., Hong, J., & Rosskopf, E. N. (2016) Anaerobic soil disinfestation: carbon rate effects on soil pH, temperature, redox potential, and tomato plant growth. American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference. https://ashs.confex.com/ashs/2016/webprogram/Paper24454.html
Di Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M., Hong, J., McCollum, G., and Rosskopf, E. N. (2016) Anaerobic ASD: Carbon Rate Effects on Tomato Plant Growth and Organic Acid Production. Proceedings 2016 Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. www.mbao.org/static/docs/confs/2016-orlando/papers/15di_gioia_mbao_2016_2.pdf
Guo, H., Zhao, X., Rosskopf, E. N., Kokalis-Burelle, N., Albano, J., Hong, J., Di Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M. (2016) Effects of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation and Herbicide Application on Tomato Production and Fruit Quality. Annual Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences. HortScience 51(9) Supplement: S332-S333.
Hong, J., Di Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M., and Rosskopf, E. (2016) Comparison of carbon quantity in anaerobic soil disinfestation. American Phytopathological Society. https://www.apsnet.org/meetings/Documents/2016_meeting_abstracts/aps2016_843.htm
Sattanno, K., DeLong, A., Swisher, M. E., Wang, J., Moore, K. N., Zhao, X., Ozores-Hampton, M., Gao, Z., Hong, J., Di Gioia, F., Guo, H., Black, Z., and Rosskopf, E. (2016) Improving the Quality of Research in Agriculture through Industry Feedback. 7th National Small Farm Conference. 2016 2016 National Small Farms Conference ASD Poster
Wang, J., Gao, Z., Zhao, X., Black, Z., Guo, H., Di Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M., Hong, J., Swisher, M., and Rosskopf, E. N. (2016) Economic analysis of anaerobic soil disinfestation on tomato production in southwest and north Florida. American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference. http://ashs.confex.com/ashs/2016/webprogram/Paper24921.html
Di Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M., Hong, J., Kokalis-Burelle, N., Guo, H., Zhao, X., and Rosskopf, E. N. (2016) Optimizing ASD for Florida fresh-market tomato production. Methyl Bromide Alternatives Outreach. https://mbao.org/static/docs/confs/2016-orlando/papers/14digioiafasd_1.pdf
Di Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M., Hong, J., Kokalis-Burelle, N., Albano, J., Zhao, X., and Rosskopf, E. N. (2016) Anaerobic soil disinfestation effects on weed and nematode control, plant growth, fruit yield and quality of fresh-market tomato . American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference. http://ashs.confex.com/ashs/2016/webprogram/Paper24180.html
Hong, J., Di Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M., & Rosskopf, E. N. (2016) Comparison of carbon quantity in anaerobic soil disinfestation. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting. https://www.apsnet.org/meetings/Documents/2016_meeting_abstracts/aps2016_843.htm
Hong, J. C., Di Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M., and Rosskopf, E. N. (2016) Effect of molasses in ASD: Focus on the soil microbiome. Methyl Bromide Alternatives Outreach. https://mbao.org/static/docs/confs/2016-orlando/papers/16hong_mbao_2016.pdf
Rosskopf, E., Hong, J., Kokalis-Burelle, N., Ozores-Hampton, M., Di Gioia, F., Roe, N., Zhao, X., Booker, B., and Sances, F. (2016) New approaches to management of Fusarium wilt of tomato in Florida. 5th International Symposium on Tomato Disease.
Rosskopf, E. N., Hong, J., Ozores-Hampton, M., Zhao, X., Di Gioia, F., Black, Z., Gao, Z., Wilson, C., Thomas, J., Monaghan, K., Sattanno, K., DeLong, A., Swisher, M., Guo, H., Muramoto, J., Kokalis-Burelle, N., Shennan, C., Wang, J., Li, Z., Shrestha, U., and Butler, D. M. (2016) USDA, AES Areawide Project on Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation. Methyl Bromide Alternatives Outreach. https://mbao.org/static/docs/confs/2016-orlando/papers/13rosskopfe_asd_areawide.pdf
Di Gioia, F., Ozores-Hampton, M., & Rosskopf, E. N. (2015) History and Principles of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation. Southwest Florida Research and Education Center Fall Vegetable Field Day
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Team Members
University of Florida
- Xin Zhao, Ph.D.
- Bodh Paudel, Ph.D.
- Mickie Swisher, Ph.D.
- Kelly Moore, Ph.D.
- Chris Wilson, Ph.D.
- Zhuona Li, Ph.D.
- Qiang Zhu, Ph.D.
- Monica Ozores-Hampton, Ph.D.
- Zhifeng Gao, Ph.D.
- Jinghui Wang, Ph.D.
- John Thomas, Ph.D.
- Zachary Black
- Alia DeLong
- Kaylene Sattanno
USDA-ARS
- Erin N. Rosskopf, Ph.D. (Lead Project Investigator)
- Wesley Schonborn
- Jason Hong, Ph.D.
- Johnna Stafford
- Cristina Pisani, Ph.D.
- Sara Houpt
- Nancy K. Burelle, Ph.D.
- Jackie Markle
- Joseph Albano, Ph.D.
- Michael Hensley
- Peter D’Aiuto
- Frank Albano
- Pragna Patel
- Chris Lasser
Additional Collaborators
- Francesco DiGioia, Ph.D. (Penn State University)
- Nancy Roe, Ph.D. (Farming Systems, Inc.)
- John Holzinger-Holzinger, Ph.D. (Flowers, Inc.)
- Utsala Shrestha, Ph.D. (University of Tennessee)
- Haichao Guo, Ph.D. (Noble Research Foundation)
- Joji Muramoto, Ph.D. (University of California)
- David Butler, Ph.D. (University of Tennessee)
- Carole Shennan, Ph.D. (University of California)