Disease control with compost

Fuchs JG, Larbi M (2004) Disease control with quality compost in pot and field trials. I International Conference Soil and Compost Eco-Biology, Leon Gattinger A, Bausenwein U, Bruns C (2004) Microbial biomass and activity in composts of different composition and age. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 167 556-561 Ghorbani R, Koocheki A, Jahan M, Asadi GA (2008) Impact of organic amendments and compost extracts on tomato production and storability in agroecological systems. Agron Sustain Dev 28 307-311... 

Spray foliage with compost tea to control mold. Spray plants with sulfur to prevent further symptom development if the weather is wet and cool and the disease is severe. 

Leaves with powdery white growth on upper surfaces. Cause Powdery mildew. This symptom is caused by a number of fungi, each of which attacks only specific plants. Thin plants to increase air movement and reduce moisture around leaves. Spray foliage with compost tea to control. Spray plants with sulfur or bordeaux mix if disease is serious to prevent further symptom development. 

Do everything you can to prevent disease, as it can spread rapidly. Virus diseases are very difficult to control and affected plants should be removed and composted as soon as you notice them. The risk of infection by some fungal diseases can be reduced by raising the pH of the soil with lime (seep.55). Crop rotation (see pp.230-233) also plays an important role in reducing the severity of other soilborne diseases and some pests. 

Even though preventive measures can go a long way in reducing the incidence of fungal diseases, you will probably have occasional need for some control measure. For airborne fungi, which produce symptoms on aboveground plant parts, picking off the infected part can help reduce the spread of the disease. If a plant is seriously infected, remove the entire plant. Place the infected pieces or plants in the center of a hot compost pile, or place in sealed containers and dispose of them with household trash. 

Once they get started, bacterial diseases are generally difficult to control. Pick or prune off infected plant parts as soon as you spot them. Be sure to dip pruning shears in a 10 percent bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) between cuts. Bury the infected pieces in the center of a hot compost pile or dispose of them with household trash. Certain sprays, such as copper compounds, are partially effective, but will not control these diseases when used alone. Bacteriophages (viruses that cause disease in bacteria) may one day find more widespread use against bacterial diseases. 

If your plants are weak and diseased, try perking them up with a nice cup of tea-compost tea, that is Just as plant-based sprays can be used to repel insects, compost tea, made from manure-based compost, may help control fungal diseases. Apparently, the microorganisms present in compost tea attack or outcompete the problem fungi that cause such diseases as powdery mildew and Botry-tis blight, thereby inhibiting their growth. 

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