Alternatives to replace methyl bromide for soil-borne pest control in East and Central Europe
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Elimination of production and consumption of Methyl Bromide (MB) would not only be important for protection of ozone layer, but it will contribute immensely to making present agriculture practices sustainable. Soil-borne pests and diseases present major challenges to the production of vegetables, legumes, ornamentals and other crops grown in open fields as well as under greenhouses. Historically, the fumigant MB was applied to soils as it could effectively control a wide range of pes ts. As it is a broad spectrum fumigant, little effort was put into the analysis (evaluation) of the species, role and nature of soil pest organisms present before treatment. Montreal Protocol now requires that MB be phased-out except for quarantine and pre-shipment uses. Most of the alternative technologies tested and validated in different countries have been effective to a large extent. For this reason the phase out of MB as a soil fumigant represents a real challenge for all, requiring not only changes in technologies, but also complementary techniques like pest and crop management systems, to ensure that alternatives are as effective as MB. There is a need that agricultural researchers, extension workers and farmers work together in order to develop Integrated Pest Management (IPM), i.e. the combined use of two or more control strategies, which would provide the same level of effectiveness as MB, while enhancing the quality of soils in the long-term. Within the framework of the project "Total Sector Methyl Bromide Phase out in Countries with Economies In Transition", the countries of Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland, gathered comprehensive data on MB use; raised awareness on MB alternatives; developed policy to support MB phase out; and identified and validated effective alternatives to replace its use in the soil sector. The present manual - prepared under the technical guidance of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Plan t Protection Service demonstrates the alternatives that are already available in Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland, their advantages and limitations, as well as the need viii to further implement IPM to achieve the necessary results and to avoid crop losses due to the incidence of several noxious organisms in soil. This compendium of useful technical information and expertise gained during the project can be consulted by scientists, extension workers, other agents working directly wi th farmers, and by farmers themselves, who often benefited in these countries from medium-to-high level education. Similarly, other countries of the Region or elsewhere with similar climate and crop conditions may use this information for its local validation and adoption if necessary.