The 3 Factors That Drive Sectagon® Performance
When it comes to soil fumigation, performance is often judged by what happens after planting.
But long before anything is visible above ground, the most important decisions have already been made.
The success of a metam fumigation program doesn’t start at application, but rather hinges on how the soil is prepared, managed, and understood.
Extensive research and field experience has led to the motto:
Confidence starts before planting.
And for metam products like Sectagon®, performance comes down to three critical factors:
- Soil preparation
- Soil moisture
- Application technique
Understanding how these elements work together can make the difference between variable results and consistent performance.
1. Soil Preparation: The Foundation
Everything begins with the condition of the soil. Soil that is compacted, dry, or uneven can limit effective fumigants movement through the profile. Compacted soil will not produce the same results as well-prepared soil.
Well-prepared soil:
- Creates better movement pathways
- Supports consistent distribution
- Helps products reach their intended targets
Without proper soil preparation, even the best application strategy can fall short.
Read more about Soil Prep2. Soil Moisture: The Driver of Movement
Once soil is properly prepared, moisture becomes the key factor that enables performance. Soil fumigants rely on moisture to:
- Move through the soil profile
- Improve distribution
- Increase contact with pests
Field results make the impact clear: Average readings at 80% soil moisture were higher than in 50% soil moisture. For retailers and advisors, this introduces a critical planning consideration: The same product, applied under different moisture conditions, can produce very different results.
Read More About Soil Moisture3. Application Technique: Precision Matters
Even with proper preparation and moisture, performance ultimately depends on placement. A common misconception is that fumigants move freely throughout the soil after application. But research shows otherwise: As James Rumble, soil fumigator at Rumble & Co., explains: “It doesn’t move in the soil like other fumigants, you have to place it exactly where you want it.”
Effective application requires:
- Understanding pest location in the soil
- Aligning application depth accordingly
- Ensuring conditions support product movement
Because if the product doesn’t reach the pest, it can’t perform.
Read More About Application TechniqueBringing It All Together
These three factors don’t operate independently; they work as a system.
- Soil preparation creates the environment
- Soil moisture enables movement
- Application technique ensures placement
When all three are aligned, performance becomes more predictable, consistent, and effective.
When one is missing, results can suffer.
Why This Matters for Planning
For crop advisors and growers, the biggest opportunity isn’t just choosing the right product, it’s making the right decisions before application begins. That’s where performance is shaped, where risks are reduced, and where confidence is built. Sectagon has long been a trusted solution across crops like potatoes, onions, carrots, and other vegetables.
Today, ongoing research is helping refine how to get even more from that performance. And it all reinforces one idea: What happens before planting determines what happens after.