INTEGRATED ROTATION SYSTEMS FOR SOILBORNE DISEASE, WEED AND FERTILITY MANAGEMENT IN STRAWBERRY/VEGETABLE PRODUCTION

Abstract

Organic strawberry/vegetable producers in coastal California face soilborne disease, nutrient, and weed management challenges. In conventional systems, stringent regulations and air quality concerns make the sustainability of fumigantdependent systems uncertain. To evaluate efficacy of anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), mustard cake (MC) application and broccoli residue incorporation, we initiated trials at an organic farm (Org) and a conventional farm (Conv) with crop rotation (broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. italica) - strawberries (Fragaria ananassa), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. botrytis) - strawberries, or fallow - strawberries) as main plot in June 2011. Sub plots (ASD, MC, ASD+MC, untreated control (UTC), and fumigant (Pic-Clor 60. Conv only)) were applied prior to strawberry in October 2011. Cover crop and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) were grown after strawberries at Org only. Marketable fruit yield, weed density, and disease level were monitored during the strawberry season and soil inorganic N dynamics for the entire period. ASD+MC and ASD produced similar fruit yields as fumigant at the Conv site. ASD+MC produced greater fruit yield than UTC and MC at both sites and ASD at the Org site. ASD and ASD+MC produced high inorganic N in the soil 2 to 3 months after application at both sites. This caused salt damage on strawberry during early growth especially at Conv which may have reduced fruit yields in both treatments. Verticillium dahliae population in soil at strawberry transplanting was less than 1 microsclerotia/g soil at both sites. However, V. dahliae infection on strawberry plants at the end of the harvest season in Org was reduced by ASD and ASD+MC suggesting that the mechanisms of yield increase by ASD involved disease suppression. Weed suppression by ASD and MC was limited. The effect of broccoli rotation in V. dahliae and weed suppression was also limited and no synergistic effect of broccoli rotation with ASD and MC was observed.