Challenges and Opportunities in Managing Diseases in No-Till Farming Systems
Publication: No-till Farming Systems for Sustainable Agriculture, Challenges and Opportunities
Abstract
Under NT management, there are several pathogens that often increase, such as Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium spp., or decrease, such as Gaeumannomyces graminis and Pratylenchus neglectus. While NT farming can lead to more inoculum in residue, soil, weeds, or volunteers, and changes in the microclimate that may affect disease development, there are management approaches that can reduce disease. Some of the most effective approaches include crop rotation, planting resistant varieties, and use of fungicides and herbicides, as well as managing stubble residue and mechanical disruption during planting. Additional research is needed for many crops that have potential to yield more in NT than in CT systems, and in South America and Asia where NT is implemented on the greatest area of land.