Soil Microbiology

Growers have been using fumigation for decades to control soilborne diseases and weeds in high-intensity vegetable production systems such as tomatoes and strawberries. However, fumigation control of pests, diseases, and weeds can be inconsistent.

The Soil Micro lab is looking at how fumigation impacts the “non-target” microbiome. We are trying to determine how fumigation influences these other microbes and whether these interactions are impacting disease and weed control and production.

Papers published by our group on this topic include:

• Interactions Between Fumigants and the Soil Microbiome - Research Publications
  • Effect of fumigants and non-fumigants on nematode and weed control, crop yield, and soil microbial diversity and predicted functionality in a strawberry production system.
    Antonio Castellano-Hinojosa, Joseph W Noling, Hung Xuan Bui, Johan A Desaeger, Sarah L Strauss
    Science of The Total Environment, 852, 158285
  • Impact of fumigants on non-target soil microorganisms: a review
    Antonio Castellano-Hinojosa, Nathan S Boyd, Sarah L Strauss
    Journal of Hazardous Materials, 427, 128149

  • View All Sarah L Strauss's Research Publications

For more information on this project, check out this news article: