Quite simply, Pacific Ag is the world leader in private soil fumigation and chemigation research.
In soil fumigation treatments liquid or gaseous biocides are injected into soil at precise rates and covered with plastic mulch in an attempt to avoid off-gassing and off-target movement. To optimize this treatment, a thorough knowledge of the physical aspects fumigant chemistry, as well as soil structure, moisture, and plastic permeability is required.
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Our applicator technicians are familiar with most soil fumigants currently in use and understand the most important aspects for product efficacy: The actual quantity (rate) of the chemical injected; the duration of pest exposure to the toxicant; and the status of soil tilth and moisture at the time of application. A long exposure period is made possible by use of high barrier plastics, soil wetting, compaction, and increased depth of fumigant incorporation. Longer exposure periods allow very low toxicant application rates to achieve the desired level of control. In addition, these factors reduce off-gassing (flux), which reduces hazards to neighboring communities.
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Recent studies using a variety of portable and laboratory instrumentation can detect fumigation movement through the plastic polymer, which has led to increased interest by regulators and a requirement that agricultural plastics be classified by their permeability to fumigants. |
Our large fleet of state of the art fumigation equipment is frequently employed for government regulated air quality testing that requires precise application rate and placement. These studies are organized and managed throughout North America and include monitoring of air and worker exposure during field activities. Pacific Ag has conducted hundreds of these field studies that characterize the behavior of volatiles inside and out of treated areas, and that dictate usage requirements such as buffer zones, personal protective equipment, and the effect of various application methods such as broadcast shank, raised bed shank, and drip irrigation (chemigation). |
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