Baines et al. 1957. Plant Disease Reporter. 41:405-414.
Roberts et al. 1988. Plant Disease. 72:213-217.
In the 1950's, Nematologist Dick Baines from UC Riverside who specialized in nematode problems on citrus conducted about a dozen field trials with Metam-sodium. The table summarizes the results of these trials. His overall conclusions were that the product held little promise for use on citrus because he was not able to achieve the depth of control desired. He did, however, achieve very good control with some application techniques at depths of 2 to 3 feet which seems to be sufficient in some annual cropping situations.
Very little additional research was conducted with Metam-sodium until the late 1980's and early 1990's. The loss or suspension of use of several fumigants prompted a renewed interest in experimentation with Metam-sodium.
Traditional shank injection equipment which releases a line of fumigant at a single depth in the soil proved the least effective means of application. More recently, there has been an emphasis on development of shank injection equipment with more closely spaced orofices which will provide better distribution of MS in soil. Also, control has been improved with the use of irrigation water to move the product through the soil via drip or drench applications. Control is typically achieved to the depth of penetration of the water.