Microbial indicators related to yield and disease and changes in soil microbial community structure with ginger farm management practices

Diseases infecting ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): A review

“…and potential inoculum could be reduced to some extent by crop rotation. Rames et al (2013) also concluded that species richness of fungal and bacterial soil populations were significantly greater in plots with a 4-year program of summer and winter crop rotations or a continuous growth of pasture grass (Digitaria eriantha sub sp. pentzii), where all the green biomass was returned to the fields before the ginger was grown, than in plots treated with fumigant or left as bare fallow.…”

“…Integration of neem seed powder and punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa) leaves, instead of poultry manure, into soil at the time of land preparation also reduced soft rot intensity in ginger by up to 89% in comparison to the untreated control (Gupta et al, 2013). Amendment of organic matter, including poultry manure and sawdust (200 t/ha) enriched diversity of soil microbial communities in these ginger fields (Rames et al, 2013). These practices also increased soil carbon levels and water infiltration rates which supported growth and yield of ginger and helped to suppress soft rot on ginger (Smith et al, 2011;Stirling et al, 2012).…”

Characterization of species associated with Pythium soft rot of ginger and evaluation of Pythium Oligandrum as a biocontrol

“…greatly depends on rotation of susceptible host crops and the diversity was poor in mono-culture systems. Similarly, Pankhurst et al (1995) , where all the green biomass was returned to the field before the ginger was grown also showed a higher diversity of soil biota compared with the fallowed field (Rames et al, 2013).…”

“…Rames et al (2013) found that minimum tillage led to soils with higher microbial populations compared to conventional tillage practice. However, the soils in minimum till fields also tended to set hard, subsequently, ginger establishment and growth was poor following direct mechanical drilling of the seed .…”

“…Along with crop rotations, amendment of organic matter, including poultry manure and sawdust (200t/ha) enriched diversity of soil microbial communities in these ginger fields (Rames et al, 2013). These practices also increased soil carbon levels and water infiltration rates which supported growth and yield of ginger and helped suppress PSR on ginger Stirling et al, 2012).…”