Exploring Cost-Effective Fumigation Methods For Small Growers

Before farmers can plant a crop, they have to make sure the soil is ready. Ensuring a strong yield often means conducting soil fumigation to mitigate pathogens and weeds. Josué Alarcón Mendoza, a graduate student researcher in horticulture at NC State University, wants to refine the application process for soil fumigation to help growers reduce costs while still effectively managing soil health.

Working under the direction of Emmanuel Torres, assistant professor of horticultural science, Alarcón Mendoza has focused his innovative research on alternative application methods centered around precision horticulture. He has compared traditional shank fumigation with drip irrigation fumigation in tomato and strawberry production.

His goal is to make soil fumigation more accessible and affordable for small and medium-sized fruit growers.

Technology Drives Precision Horticulture
Precision horticulture is a farming management approach that uses technology and data to optimize crop production and resource use, while managing soil and environmental variability. It involves tools like sensors, GPS systems, drones and data analytics to help farmers make more informed decisions about soil management, irrigation and pest control, among others. For small and medium growers, precision horticulture can help reduce costs and increase efficiency while maintaining or improving crop yields.

“Soil fumigation has traditionally been applied as a broadcast practice using shank equipment, where large knives inject fumigants into the soil as they move through the field,” Alarcón Mendoza says. “Under standard conditions, this has been the preferred fumigation method. However, this approach can create significant challenges for small to medium-scale farmers, as many do not have access to the specialized equipment or custom application services required to fumigate fields properly and safely. Drip tape fumigation provides a more cost-effective and accessible solution for small to medium growers while maintaining effectiveness in managing pathogens and weeds.”

Alarcón Mendoza’s research also explores modified bed architectures. By reducing planting bed width by 1 to 2 inches per side, it may be possible to increase crop density by approximately 10% to 11% per acre through the use of taller, more compact beds positioned closer together. However, this concept still requires field validation under current commercial equipment limitations. The approach aims to reduce growers’ costs by implementing modified fumigation rates and enhancing bed design.

Agricultural Foundation
Alarcón Mendoza, who is from Ecuador, earned his bachelor’s degree in agronomy from the Pan American Agricultural School Zamorano in Honduras. The program featured a unique curriculum that combined 50% classroom learning with 50% hands-on technical experience in areas like irrigation systems, mechanical equipment and animal science.

“I discovered the potential of technology integration in agriculture,” Alarcon Mendoza says of his journey into precision horticulture.

During his undergraduate studies, he saw how combining traditional farming with modern tools such as sensor-driven irrigation systems, low-cost sensors and data analysis could solve real-world problems more efficiently. This exposure to real-world technical work inspired him to pursue graduate studies focused on using technology to make farming more accessible and cost-effective for growers.

He first connected with his advisor, Emmanuel Torres, while completing an internship at Virginia Tech. Alarcón Mendoza later continued working with Torres, a precision horticulture researcher and vegetable production specialist with NC State Extension, as a horticulture graduate student at NC State. He notes that their established relationship made his transition to graduate school smoother.

Effective Growing Practices
Alarcón Mendoza’s research extends beyond fumigation methods to include work with water sensors, soil moisture monitoring and RGB and Multispectral imaging for plant health assessment.

These technologies allow him to collect data on soil conditions and crop health, helping identify the most effective growing practices. He has presented his findings at conferences with the American Society for Horticultural Science in Louisiana and Houston, where he connected with professors and fellow researchers from various universities.

After completing his graduate degree, Alarcón Mendoza plans to gain more industry experience in the United States before considering doctoral studies.

Alarcón Mendoza believes in the importance of determination in pursuing academic goals and finding new solutions.

“Being open-minded, resilient, and passionate while putting in effort” is essential, he says, adding that students should aim high and learn from the process, even when facing challenges.