The Economic Impacts of Disease Suppressive Rotations in Maine Potato Cropping Systems

Abstract

Soil borne diseases can greatly reduce marketable yields and are a major concern to Maine potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) producers. Control of these organisms is difficult as they can persist in the soil for several years and symptoms typically worsen each year. Depending on the specific pathogen, different mechanisms for moderating soil borne disease can be employed, such as breaking the hostpathogen cycle, stimulating beneficial microbial activity, and direct inhibition of the pathogens. Current research at the USDA-ARS New England Plant, Soil, and Water Laboratory is investigating the effect of rotation crops and rotation sequences on the incidence and severity of soil-borne diseases in the following potato crop. These results (incidence, severity, and potato yield) are incorporated into an economic simulation model to determine the impact of rotations on profitability, level of income risk, and probability of economic loss for different rotation sequences and rotation lengths. The results show that several rotation sequences can increase profitability and reduce economic risk when compared to continuous potato or to the standard barley-potato rotations.