Articles
PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION GUIDELINES FOR DISEASE SUPPRESSIVE COMPOSTS
Article number
635_11
Pages
87 – 92
Language
English
Abstract
Composts can provide natural biological control of diseases of roots as well as the foliage of plants.
Many factors must be controlled, however, to obtain positive effects consistently.
The raw materials from which composts are prepared, the process used to make the compost, the stability or maturity of the compost, microorganisms which colonize the compost after peak heating, and finally, chemical and physical properties of the compost produced all affect efficacy in biological control.
Root diseases caused by Phytophthora and Pythium spp. are controlled most effectively after compost amendments.
For consistent control of diseases caused by pathogens such as Rhizoctonia solani which produce sclerotia, specific biocontrol agents must be inoculated into the compost after peak heating.
Specific inoculants also must be introduced to induce systemic resistance in plants to disease.
Loading rates of composts used in the field have a direct impact on some diseases due to fertility effects of the product.
Timing of applications relative to cropping cycles also has an effect.
Utilization in container media requires even more specific considerations.
It is not surprising, therefore, that composts have provided very desirable but also frustratingly negative effects.
Quality control in compost production is key to consistent success.
A brief overview of each controllable factor will be presented.
Many factors must be controlled, however, to obtain positive effects consistently.
The raw materials from which composts are prepared, the process used to make the compost, the stability or maturity of the compost, microorganisms which colonize the compost after peak heating, and finally, chemical and physical properties of the compost produced all affect efficacy in biological control.
Root diseases caused by Phytophthora and Pythium spp. are controlled most effectively after compost amendments.
For consistent control of diseases caused by pathogens such as Rhizoctonia solani which produce sclerotia, specific biocontrol agents must be inoculated into the compost after peak heating.
Specific inoculants also must be introduced to induce systemic resistance in plants to disease.
Loading rates of composts used in the field have a direct impact on some diseases due to fertility effects of the product.
Timing of applications relative to cropping cycles also has an effect.
Utilization in container media requires even more specific considerations.
It is not surprising, therefore, that composts have provided very desirable but also frustratingly negative effects.
Quality control in compost production is key to consistent success.
A brief overview of each controllable factor will be presented.
Authors
H.A.J. Hoitink, C.M. Changa
Keywords
disease suppression, biological control, induced resistance, root rots, foliar diseases.
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