Use and Effects of Different Brassica and Other Rotation Crops on Soilborne Diseases and Yield of Potato †

Abstract

Soilborne diseases are persistent problems in potato production, resulting in reductions in tuber quality and yield. Brassica rotation crops may reduce soilborne potato diseases, but how to best utilize Brassica crops in potato cropping systems has not been established. In this research, two two-year trials were established at three different sites with histories of soilborne diseases, and up to six different Brassica crops (canola, winter rapeseed, yellow and brown condiment mustards, oriental mustard, oilseed radish, and a mustard blend) and standard rotation crops (ryegrass and buckwheat) were evaluated as rotation and green manure crops. Tuber yield did not vary substantially among the rotation crops, but rotation treatments significantly affected incidence and severity of soilborne diseases at all sites. However, results were variable among sites and years. Perennial ryegrass and mustard blend rotations reduced powdery scab disease by 31–55% relative to other rotations in the only field where powdery scab was a serious problem. Mustard blend, ryegrass, and other Brassica rotations also reduced common scab, silver scurf, and black scurf at various sites, but not consistently at all sites. At one site, mustard blend and barley/ryegrass rotations reduced black scurf (by 21–58%) and common scab (by 13–34%) relative to no rotation. Overall, disease control was not correlated with biofumigation potential or rotation crop biomass production. Although both Brassica and non-Brassica rotations provided disease reduction in potato cropping systems, no single rotation crop performed consistently better than several others.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus): Processing, Utilization, and Genetic Improvement

“…Cycling rapeseed cultivation with other plants is not competitive, because rapeseed is a spring/winter type crop, whereas others such as rice, corn, and soybean are summer crops. Another advantage of rapeseed manure is its ability to improve beneficial soil bacteria [317] and to alleviate or suppress the harmful effect of infections [318][319][320][321][322] and nematodes [323][324][325]. Another beneficial use of rapeseed manure is in weed management, which could increase crop yield [326][327][328][329][330].…”

Irreplaceable Role of Amendment-Based Strategies to Enhance Soil Health and Disease Suppression in Potato Production

“…After harvest, any of the plant-derived products and residues will be considered as an organic amendment. Plant-based amendments noticeably increase potato yield due to a high volume of biomass input and in the meantime diseases can be suppressed at various levels [ 50 , 51 ].…”

Micronutrients and Soil Microorganisms in the Suppression of Potato Common Scab

“…The additions of low-pH SOM can be also followed by shifts of microbial community composition towards the increase in suppressive activities [33,91]. Green manures combined with appropriate crop rotation may also increase the protective streptomycetes soil sub-community [5,104,111].…”