Soil fumigation with metam sodium is a popular management tool in intensive vegetable production. Some vegetable growers in the Fassifem and Lockyer Valleys in SE Queensland have incorporated fumigation with metam sodium into their management practices. Metam sodium has been attributed to reduced incidence of cavity spot and pythium root rot in carrots. Anecdotal evidence of poor germination, stunted and uneven growth in carrot crops following fumigation with metam sodium on some farms in the Lockyer and Fassifem Valleys was received as the result of a commercial enquiry in 1992. This project was undertaken to investigate the problems associated with intensive vegetable production.