Articles
GREEN MANURES TO CONTROL SOILBORNE DISEASES IN GREENHOUSE PRODUCTION
Article number
1041_21
Pages
187 – 196
Language
English
Abstract
Soilborne fungal diseases are a major constraint for greenhouse production of vegetables and berries.
In organic horticulture, which cannot switch to soilless production systems, the control of soilborne fungi is a key factor.
Crop rotation with non-host plants is extremely difficult as many soilborne diseases have a wide range of host plants including the most important greenhouse crops.
Cultivating green manures can break the cycle of host plants, when typical non-host plants such as cereals are grown.
Biocidal crops, such as high-glucosinolate containing Brassica species, are another useful group of green manures.
Incorporating the easily degradable biomass formed by green manures stimulates soil microbial activity, another factor that affects the survival of soilborne pathogens.
At Agroscope, research on the use of different green manures to control soilborne diseases in greenhouses was conducted in integrated and organic production systems.
In contrast to the pot trials, the amount of organic matter produced with green manures in the greenhouse was too low to raise the soil microbial activity sufficiently to decrease the number of Verticillium dahliae microsclerotia significantly.
A possible solution to this problem is the import of green manures in the form of dried plants or silage.
In organic horticulture, which cannot switch to soilless production systems, the control of soilborne fungi is a key factor.
Crop rotation with non-host plants is extremely difficult as many soilborne diseases have a wide range of host plants including the most important greenhouse crops.
Cultivating green manures can break the cycle of host plants, when typical non-host plants such as cereals are grown.
Biocidal crops, such as high-glucosinolate containing Brassica species, are another useful group of green manures.
Incorporating the easily degradable biomass formed by green manures stimulates soil microbial activity, another factor that affects the survival of soilborne pathogens.
At Agroscope, research on the use of different green manures to control soilborne diseases in greenhouses was conducted in integrated and organic production systems.
In contrast to the pot trials, the amount of organic matter produced with green manures in the greenhouse was too low to raise the soil microbial activity sufficiently to decrease the number of Verticillium dahliae microsclerotia significantly.
A possible solution to this problem is the import of green manures in the form of dried plants or silage.
Authors
V.V. Michel, A. Ançay, Y. Fleury, C. Camps
Keywords
Brassica, cereals, soil microbial activity
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