Soil Fumigation -- A Tool for Sugar Beet Cyst Nematode Management

Nematodes are major sugar beet pests. One of the worst for growers in Idaho and eastern Oregon is the cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii), which afflicts over half of the region's sugar beet acreage. Soil fumigation is one way to manage it, but it is an exacting process that must be done properly to obtain satisfactory results. This six-page publication provides all the basics: fumigation types; factors that influence their effectiveness; how to prepare your soil; application rates, timing and methods; post-application tactics; and tips to help avoid a reinfestation.