This week, we initiated a trial investigating the effectiveness of applying fungicides post-emergence with an alternative tool, a point injection applicator, to control the pathogen which causes Fusarium wilt of lettuce. The hypothesis is to inject fungicide where it is needed to protect plants from the soilborne disease – in the root zone, without injuring crop roots. We are doing this with a point injection applicator, a device designed to apply ag chemicals post emergence with minimal root damage and soil disturbance. The applicator utilizes hollow pointed tips attached to a rotatable wheel to inject liquid products into the root zone at precise intervals and depths (Fig. 1). The advantage of point injection compared to conventional shank injection is that root pruning is minimized, reducing the number of wounds that provide a pathway for the pathogen to infect the plant. Stay tuned for trial details and results. 

Fig. 1. Point injection applicator operating in iceberg lettuce. 

Fig. 2. Click here or the image above to see the point injection system in action.