Effects of soil treatment practices on pink root disease of onion in the Senegalese cultivation system

Abstract

Abstract Pink root disease of onion, a known worldwide constraint upon onion production, significantly reduces crop levels in the main Senegalese cultivation area. So far there have been no satisfactory solutions to this problem owing to the specific socloeconomic and environmental conditions. Compared with local farmers’ practices, the soil chemotherapeutant dazomet was effective in lowering disease development and improving yields and harvest quality. Application rates as low as 40 g a.i m2 were found to provide economically acceptable control. Solarization also helps minimize the effect of the incidence of pink root disease on yields but is less efficient than dazomet because of local cultivation practices.