Congratulations to UC Davis weed science graduate student Erika Escalona (Fennimore Lab) for winning 1st place in the student poster presentation category at the 2024 California Plant and Soil Conference on Feb. 6-7, 2024 in Fresno, CA.
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Evaluating Bacterial Diversity in Steam Fumigation Treatments in the Salinas Valley's Lettuce Fields
Erika Escalona, University of California, Davis; Steve Fennimore, UC Cooperative Extension, Weed Specialist, Salinas; Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis; J.S. Rachuy, Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis; Cristina Lazcano, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davis
As the specter of climate change looms larger, sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives for pest and pathogen control in agriculture are becoming increasingly imperative. Steam fumigation, once an antiquated method overshadowed by chemical pesticides, is experiencing a resurgence due to heightened environmental concerns. Despite its historical use, there has been limited exploration of scaling up steam fumigation for field applications in vegetable crops. Although existing studies have highlighted the efficacy of steam fumigation, a critical knowledge gap persists regarding its impact on the soil microbiome, a fundamental determinant of agricultural productivity. This study seeks to advance the validation of steam fumigation as a practical alternative to chemical fumigation by conducting a comprehensive assessment of vegetable productivity in lettuce and spinach grown in steamed soils versus non-steamed soils. The experiment utilized a custom-built steam applicator equipped with a low-pressure 1,000 kg/hour steam generator in Salinas, CA. All research and trials were conducted at the Salinas Extension and USDA Center. Soil samples were collected before and after steam application, and crops were meticulously monitored for disease and weed control, alongside yields at harvest. Preliminary results indicate effective weed control and increased yields in the presence of disease pressure. In addition to evaluating the efficiency of steam fumigation in weed and pathogen control, this study delves into a thorough investigation of the bacterial diversity of soils. The trials, conducted from July 2023 to August 2023, involved verifying the performance of the steam applicator, assessing beneficial soil organisms using 16S sequencing, and evaluating treatment impact on bacterial diversity. By examining the results obtained from these multifaceted trials, we aim to provide comprehensive insights into the overall effectiveness of steam fumigation and its potential application in sustainable agriculture practices, with a specific focus on its influence on the soil microbiome.
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To view the full story, visit UC Davis Plant Sciences Dept. News, Feb. 22, 2024.
Contacts
- Erika Escalona: eescalona@ucdavis.edu
- Steve Fennimore: safennimore@ucdavis.edu
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