Chloropicrin is best described as which of the following?

• A. Soil fumigant. Do not use on plants
• B. Fertilizer
• C. Fungicide
• D. Insect repellent

Answer: (A)

Chloropicrin is used to sterilize soil before planting, making it a soil fumigant. It’s a volatile chemical that is injected into the soil and then covered so its fumes spread through the surrounding soil, killing soil-borne pests, pathogens, weed seeds, and insect eggs. This makes it effective for prepping ground for new crops, rather than feeding plants or acting as a fertilizer.

It isn’t a fertilizer, so it doesn’t supply nutrients to plants. It isn’t used as a fungicide or an insect repellent in the sense of a product you apply to protect above-ground parts or to repel insects; its primary purpose is fumigation to reduce soil pests and diseases. Because of its potency and safety concerns, it’s handled with strict precautions and typically used as a pre-plant treatment.