Commodity Fumigation License Practice Exam

If the soil temperature is below 40 degrees, do fumigants volatilize adequately for pest control?

1. True

2. False

3. Only with additional heating

4. It depends on the type of fumigant

The correct answer is: False

Fumigants rely on sufficient volatilization to effectively penetrate the soil and control pest populations. When soil temperatures are below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the rate of volatilization is significantly diminished. This reduced volatility means that fumigants may not reach the concentrations necessary to achieve effective pest control. In colder soil conditions, the fumigant molecules are less energetic, making it difficult for them to transition from a liquid state to a gaseous state, which is essential for their intended function. As a result, using fumigants at temperatures below this threshold can lead to inadequate pest control outcomes, as the fumigants will not disperse effectively within the soil. Although some specific types of fumigants might behave differently at lower temperatures, generally, a standard guideline is that temperatures below 40 degrees do not allow sufficient volatilization for effective pest management.