Importance of Brassica soil amendments for managing soilborne disease in ornamentals and vegetables

View the project final report

• 2007 annual report

Commodities

• Agronomic: canola
• Vegetables: cucurbits
• Additional Plants: ornamentals

Practices

• Crop Production: cover crops
• Pest Management: biological control
• Soil Management: green manures
• Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures

Soilborne pathogens of ornamental and vegetable crops cause production losses every year. However, current disease control methods offer few strategies and fumigation with methyl bromide has been decreed inappropriate for continued use. Additionally, reliable and sustainable disease management methods appropriate for limited resource farmers should be further researched due to the lack of availability of effective sustainable management methods. Some plants, such as mustards, contain secondary metabolites, such as glucosinolates, which decompose into biocidal and volatile isothiocyanates, as well as other chemicals, which are thought to manage pathogen populations including fungi and nematodes. This biocontrol method appears to be a viable alternative to chemical soil fumigation practices as part of a sustainable agricultural system in the climate of the mid-south. However, additional information is needed on effective Brassica spp. and rates of incorporation. Objectives in the study will be as follows: 1. To determine the importance of brassica cover crop selection and biomass application rates in relation to disease management of root-knot nematodes, or Meloidogyne incognita, on cucumber: 2. To determine the importance of brassica cover crop selection and biomass application rates in the disease management of Rhizoctonia solani AG4 on petunias and impatiens. Effective management of soilborne pathogens for vegetable and ornamental crops using a biofumigation system in both limited-resource farming operations and home production appears promising.

1. 1. To determine the importance of brassica cover crop selection and biomass application rates in relation to disease management of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) affecting cucumber. 2. To determine the importance of brassica cover crop selection and biomass application rates in the disease management of Rhizoctonia solani AG4 on petunias and impatiens.