Biofumigation for Soil Health in Organic High Tunnel and Conventional Field Vegetable Production Systems

The purpose of this project is to develop sustainable soil-borne dic;ease management tactics suitable for use in organic or conventional vegetable production systems. In particular, we will examine the potential of soil-incorporation of brassicas to fight Sclerotinia rot in winter vegetables grown in unheated high tunnels and Phytophthora blight in summer-grown bell peppers. We aim to develop tactics that build healthy soils and promote microbial ecosystems that challenge these potentially devastating, broad spectrum pathogens.