Pre-plant soil fumigation was undertaken in Mariginiup, Western Australia as part of a green bean trial for a local grower. The trial focused on improving soil conditions prior to planting to support stronger crop establishment and overall performance. Effective soil preparation plays a key role in managing soil-borne pressures and setting the foundation for a successful season.

TriCal Group Companies are committed to the safe and responsible use of soil fumigation. We strive to protect you, your community and the environment. Our Companies rely on decades of experience, thousands of in-field application trials, and hundreds of university research studies to find the perfect formulation that is healthy for your crops, profitable for your farm, and safe for your community.

In a recent cherry orchard planting, a central section of post-row ground was left unfumigated due to equipment access limitations. The difference in plant performance was clear — trees established in soil treated with Strike 80 showed stronger growth and improved vigor compared to those planted in untreated soil. Although the variety was considered disease resistant, this experience reinforced the importance of proactive soil preparation. The grower has since committed to fumigating all future plantings.

According to Dr. Chad Hutchinson, Functional Sustainability in agriculture means measurable improvements in soil health, resource efficiency, and overall crop system performance — without sacrificing yield.

Advances in genomic soil analysis now allow us to evaluate soil health at the microbiome level, using DNA sequencing to assess bacterial and fungal populations. By comparing soils before and after practices such as soil fumigation, this technology provides objective insight into how inputs influence disease suppression, biological diversity, and long-term soil function.

Because meaningful sustainability starts below the surface, soil health data is becoming one of the most important tools for guiding better production decisions.

Thanks to pre-plant soil fumigation, strawberry crops in Wamuran, Queensland are showing strong early growth and excellent fruit development. By reducing soil-borne pests and diseases before planting, soil fumigation supports healthier root systems and more vigorous plants. The result is larger, high-quality berries and more consistent yields — demonstrating how good soil preparation helps set the foundation for a successful strawberry season.

TriCal Australia uses inline skid systems to deliver soil fumigants through drip irrigation with precision and control. By metering products directly into irrigation lines, this method allows for consistent distribution in the soil’s wetted zone while utilizing existing farm infrastructure. Inline skid application provides growers with a flexible, efficient option for managing soil-borne pests and supporting healthy crop establishment.

The Growing Better Potatoes workshop, hosted by Australian Horticultural Research (AHR) and the PotatoLink project, focused on soil and disease management strategies to protect potato yield and quality. Experts Dr. Len Tesoriero (CropDoc) and Dr. Chad Hutchinson (TriCal) shared insights on managing soil-borne diseases such as black dot and Verticillium wilt, including the role of integrated soil management practices.

Soil fumigation plays a key role in optimizing strawberry production. By improving soil conditions, Strike supports stronger plant development and more efficient production outcomes, including:

• Healthier, larger root systems that improve water and nutrient uptake
• Faster leaf growth and earlier flowering
• A more uniform and productive fruit set
• Improved harvest efficiency and reduced labor cost per unit of fruit
• Greater resilience to environmental stress and soil-borne disease
• Improved fruit quality and shelf life
• Faster crop establishment and stronger early-season performance

With Strike, growers consistently achieve increased crop value and healthier, more resilient strawberry plants.

After experiencing significant plant loss due to Fusarium and Verticillium, this greenhouse tomato grower turned to Strike 60 as a soil solution. Following application, plants showed no further dieback or wilting and began to thrive. The result was a healthier crop with strong, dark green foliage and large leaves. Tomato fruit developed uniformly in size and color, with a glossy finish and no blemishes—demonstrating the impact of effective soil management in controlled environments. (Read More)

TriCal Australia is proud to be the exclusive Australian distributor of ProFume®, an award-winning fumigant from Douglas Products. Used globally as an alternative to Methyl Bromide and aluminium phosphide, ProFume® delivers reliable control across a wide range of post-harvest, quarantine, and pre-shipment fumigation activities.

• Proven to control phosphine-resistant insect pests in grain-growing regions
• Excellent rotation fumigant that supports resistance management strategies
• Cost-effective solution to extend the useful life of phosphine in grain protection
• Fast-acting, odourless, colourless gas that leaves no impact on commodity quality
• Registered in Australia and over 20 other countries, meeting Codex standards for international trade

With Sulfuryl Fluoride chemistry, ProFume® is not ozone-depleting and aerates rapidly, reducing downtime for facilities.