b'It allows the farmer to have a little more flexibility; they dont have to worry about working the mustard into the soil before it begins to seed. That can create a time crunch for them. This grants them a longer timeframe for that. RICK MITZELSuccess with biofumigation depends on both variety selection and region, Frederick explains.In conversations I had about mustard biofumigation in Manitoba in 2017 and 2018, when growers were experimenting on their own, the initial results were frustrating and they didnt think it was working, he says. The problem turned out to be the situation with the correct mustard and the incorrect method, which prevented the process from getting over the finish line. So, its important that you pairRick Mitzel is CEO of Mustard 21 based in Saskatoon, Sask.the two, and this is where it becomes critical to make sure that the mustard and the method really have been experimentally verified in your region.Seeding date is also crucial, Abbas says. Mustard should be seeded about 60 days before the pest will be present in the soil. So, if we want to reap the biofumigant effects in October, the mustard should be seeded two months before that, Abbas says.Abbas explains that for best results, the pH of the soil should be above 5.5. If the field has a pH lower than 5.5, the biofumigation process might not be successful. For optimum results, the pH of soil should be as close as possible.Fertilizer is also very important to the production of biomass and sulfur is crucial for the production of glucosinolates. Managing all these factors helps in increasing the biomass production and glucosinolate levels in the mustard crop. Biomass and glucosinolates are factors that are fundamental to the success of biofumigation, Abbas adds.Irrigation is also another factor for best results.Finally, mustard must be incorporated immediately after mowing, as 80 per cent of the fumigant gas will be released in the first 20 minutes after mowing. Once the incorporation process is completed, the field should be left undisturbed for at least two weeks to ensure all plant material can be broken down.Despite the challenges, its clear theres an appetite for alternatives to commercial fumigants, and Mitzel is optimistic that having a new tool in the toolbox in the form of MSH85 will encourage them.What were trying to do is create a product that will work for growers and will require minimal maintenance. Convenience and more biomass production are what we hope will be a winning combination, Mitzel adds. SPUDSMART.COM Spring 202325'