Compost tea foliar disease suppression in horticulture crops

Abstract

This chapter evaluates compost tea defined as a watery fermented liquid compost extract. This concentrated liquid is a source of beneficial microorganism (bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes), macro and micronutrients and microorganisms metabolites such as humic acids and hormones plant regulators. Compost tea is not a fertilizer, a fungicide, a pesticide or a product that does everything, but as a biological control method, it has the potential to suppress a broad range of plant pathogens. The chapter discusses scientific literature on the benefits of compost tea, compost tea types, application methods and compost tea quality. Furthermore, the chapter provides information on the use of compost teas to promote foliar disease suppression in horticulture crops. Compost teas can be an alternative to fungicides due to the increased development of fungicide-resistant isolates, potential regulatory loss of fungicides and worker, health, and safety concerns in the organic and conventional horticulture industry.