Thies, Walter G.; Castellano, Michael A.; Ingham, Elaine R.; Luoma, Daniel L.; Moldenke, Andrew R. 1991. Bioresponse of nontarget organisms resulting from the use of chloropicrin to control laminated root rot in a northwest conifer forest: Part 1. Installation of study. In: Pesticides in natural ecosystems: how can their effects be monitored? [Place of publication unknown]: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; EPA Rep 910/9-91-011: 81-84.
Laminated root rot is a major root disease problem in the West. Several fumigants have been foundeffective in reducing or completely eradicating the pathogen from infested stumps and roots. In 1989 EPAapproved the use of chloropicrin as a stump treatment to control laminated root rot. Reports detailingchloropicrin concentration in the environment as a result of the treatment or the potential impacts ofchloropicrin on non target forest organisms are lacking. A disease control study was established to furtherevaluate the effectiveness and cost of stump application of chloropicrin to control laminated root. Thebioresponse study described here will take advantage of plots and treated stumps established for the diseasecontrol study by monitoring treated areas and quantifying the changes in four segments of the ecosystem likelyto be sensitive to chloropicrin: vascular plant community, detrital foodweb, soil microarthropods, andmycorrhizae formation. Due to the anticipated slow release of chloropicrin from the stumps, monitoring willcontinue for 3 years. Only preliminary results are available now.