dictate whether this is a feasible alternative (Flint and Roberts, 1988). The advantages of crop

rotation include improvement of soil texture, conservation of water, and improved weed control.

These advantages result because of rotation into crops with different cultural practices than those

practiced for the prior crop (Flint and Roberts, 1988).

 In the state of Florida however, rotation to a selected crop in order to reduce populations

of certain pests may result in an increase in numbers of other pests such as nematodes and/or

fungi (Rhoades et al., 1966). Another disadvantage of this method is that it may take several

years of rotation to reduce populations to acceptable levels.


Hot Water or Steam

 Byars and Gilbert (1920) found that heat treatment of potting soils or greenhouse soils

killed root knot nematodes and fungi such as Rhizoctonia and Pythium. A researchable

alternative to methyl bromide is an extension of that treatment whereby hot water treatment of

the field or injecting hot water into the soil via shanks is done to control some soilborne pests

such as nematodes. A machine has been developed that kills weeds and other potentially

dangerous pests by scalding. However, the machine is prohibitively expensive at the present

time (Ulrich, 1993).

 Steam sterilization of potting or greenhouse soils has also been found to be effective and

is used extensively to treat medium used to grow transplants for vegetable production. The use

of steam sterilization for field application is considered cost prohibitive and dangerous for

workers involved. Cost of application can exceed $2500 per acre. This method is not

considered as effective against weeds and nematodes as methyl bromide.