Developing Disease-Suppressive Soil Through Agronomic Management

Abstract

Soilborne plant pathogens are major limitation in most of the agroecosystems for production of sustainable yield. These pathogens produce resting bodies in the soil which are long lasting and difficult to eliminate. Various approaches have been used to prevent, mitigate, or control the plant diseases. Considering limitations in the practices for managing plant disease through genetic resistance in the host plants and use of synthetic chemicals, focus was given to the management of the plant and its environment through agronomic managements. Soil properties, soil microbiome and its diversity, and nature of the crops and its root system are altered for the development of suppressive soil to manage the soilborne pathogens through one or more mechanisms like antibiosis, allele-chemicals, competition for niche and nutrients, root camouflage, parasitism and induce resistance, etc. Agronomic management practices, viz., tillage, soil solarization, use of organic amendments, organic manures including green manures, crop rotation, bio-fertilizers and biocontrol agents, etc., manipulate the soil–plant–microbial system