|
Project Leader(s): George Abawi and John
Ludwig, Dept. of Plant Pathology, NYSAES, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456.
315-787-2374. Gsa1@nysaes.cornell.edu,
jwl2@nysaes.cornell.edu
Type of grant:
Cultural Methods / Biological Control
Project location(s): Findings are applicable
nationally
Abstract: Green manures of a number of
rotational and cover crops have been shown to effectively suppress the severity
of root diseases and improve crop yield. We have recently documented that sudangrass
incorporated as a green manure is effective in suppressing the root-knot nematode
on vegetable crops. The principal mechanism involved in the observed suppression
was shown to be due to the production of gaseous toxic compounds during the
decomposition of the green manures in soil. This project was conducted to evaluate
the effectiveness of green manures of sudangrass and wheat in suppressing root
rot diseases of beans, thus the development an environmentally compatible management
strategy for this important disease. Bean and fallow treatments were also included
as checks. The replicated trial was established in a 2-acre experimental field,
which is heavily infested with root rot pathogens. Sudangrass and wheat were
planted on 5 June and incorporated on 9 August at rates of 29.4 and 5.3 T/A,
respectively. Half of each of the plot areas were also sealed with a cultipacker-roller.
The main results of this project will not be available until the end of the
2002 growing season. However, results of a greenhouse bioassay test showed that
beans grown in soils collected from the sealed plots and receiving the green
manure of sudangrass exhibited a slightly lower root rot severity. It is hoped
that the suppression of root diseases will increase substantially prior to the
next planting season.
|
