Confidence Starts Before Planting: Why Application Technique Matters More Than You Think

When growers think about crop protection, they are usually facing a problem in the field. But for some crops, protection is determined long before anything is visible above ground.  

For soil fumigants like Sectagon® (metam), understanding how the product behaves in the soil is just as important as what product is used. 

The misconception

For years, many growers operated under the assumption that fumigants naturally disperse throughout the soil profile after application. But field research is challenging that belief. 

As James Rumble, soil fumigator at Rumble & Co., puts it: “It doesn’t move in the soil like other fumigants… you have to place it exactly where you want it.” 

Why placement is everything 

Sectagon (metam) relies on contact with the pest to perform effectively. 

However: 

  • Pests exist at different depths 
  • Product movement is limited vertically and laterally 

In fact, research shows that the active ingredient is often concentrated in the top few inches of soil, meaning improper placement can limit effectiveness.

The role of soil conditions 

Applications do not happen in a vacuum. 

To maximize movement and placement: 

  • Soil must allow easy movement pathways 
  • Moisture must help carry the product 
  • Soil structure must support penetration 

As one applicator put it: 

“It needs a vehicle to get where it’s going — and it needs an easy path.” 

Planning ahead 

Early conversations between growers and crop advisors should focus on: 

  • Where pests are located in the soil profile 
  • How application depth aligns with those pressures 
  • Whether soil conditions support effective placement 

Because by the time symptoms show above ground, the opportunity to influence outcomes is already behind you.

Confidence doesn’t start at planting. It starts in the soil before the season begins. 

Sectagon