Which statement is true about using soil fumigants on plants?

Which statement is true about using soil fumigants on plants?

• A. They should be applied to living plant tissues
• B. They should not be used on plants
• C. They enhance plant growth
• D. They are safe for all crops

Answer: (B)

Soil fumigants are meant to be applied to the soil to control pests, pathogens, and weed seeds, not to living plant parts. When these chemicals come into contact with active plant tissue, they can cause phytotoxicity—injuring leaves, stems, and especially roots—and disrupt normal growth as the gas diffuses into the plant. That’s why the idea of applying fumigants directly to plants is inappropriate and unsafe. They are used as soil treatments under strict label directions because of their high toxicity and environmental and worker hazards. They do not promote growth; their purpose is pest and disease control in the soil, and their safety and effectiveness depend on crop type and proper application.

Soil fumigants are meant to be applied to the soil to control pests, pathogens, and weed seeds, not to living plant parts. When these chemicals come into contact with active plant tissue, they can cause phytotoxicity—injuring leaves, stems, and especially roots—and disrupt normal growth as the gas diffuses into the plant. That’s why the idea of applying fumigants directly to plants is inappropriate and unsafe. They are used as soil treatments under strict label directions because of their high toxicity and environmental and worker hazards. They do not promote growth; their purpose is pest and disease control in the soil, and their safety and effectiveness depend on crop type and proper application.