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by Gus Plamann on 25/Aug/23
Combatting Fusarium and Enhancing Soil Health with BeCrop® Test
The battle against plant pathogens, including Fusarium spp., is a significant concern for farmers worldwide. Fusarium is a fungus genus encompassing various species, such as Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani, some of which pose a serious threat to crops.
But what if we told you that there's a groundbreaking solution that can help combat Fusarium and enhance overall soil health? In this blog, we'll explore how the powerful BeCrop® Test is unmasking Fusarium spp. and empowering farmers to make data-driven decisions to protect their crops and optimize yields.
Understanding Fusarium spp.
Fusarium spp. comprise a diverse group of fungi found in soil and plant debris. While some species are harmless, others act as notorious plant pathogens, causing diseases like Fusarium wilt, root rot, and ear rot in a wide range of crops, including fruits, vegetables, and cereals. These diseases can lead to significant economic losses and reduced agricultural productivity.
The BeCrop® Test: Unveiling the Invisible
BeCrop® Test is a revolutionary soil health platform that analyzes soil biology and translates complex microbial data into actionable insights. By unlocking the hidden world of soil microbes, BeCrop® Test offers a comprehensive understanding of the soil microbiome and its impact on plant health.
One of the remarkable features of BeCrop® Test is its ability to identify specific microbial signatures associated with Fusarium spp. presence. This advanced technology can accurately detect Fusarium populations in the soil by using DNA sequencing, enabling farmers to take timely and precise action against potential outbreaks.
Monitoring Disease Presence Mid-Season with BeCrop® Tests
One of the most powerful aspects of BeCrop® Test is its flexibility in providing real-time insights throughout the growing season. By setting up a series of BeCrop® tests, farmers can continuously monitor disease presence and the effectiveness of their management practices. This proactive approach allows for timely adjustments and interventions, leading to better disease control and optimized crop performance.
1. BeCrop Yield - Setting up a Series of BeCrop® Tests
To effectively monitor disease presence and track changes in soil health, farmers can strategically schedule a series of BeCrop® Tests at different intervals throughout the growing season.
- The initial test at the beginning of the season serves as a baseline, providing valuable information about the soil's initial microbial composition and the potential presence of Fusarium spp. or other pathogens.
- Subsequent tests can be scheduled at critical stages of crop development and yield improvement, such as before and after significant management practices like planting, irrigation, or fertilizer application.
- By conducting multiple soil tests, farmers gain a comprehensive understanding of how their management decisions impact the soil microbiome and, subsequently, the crop's health and yield.
2. BeCrop® Disease - Measuring Disease Presence Mid-Season
Mid-season BeCrop® Tests play a crucial role in disease monitoring and management. Farmers can use this information to assess whether the disease presence has decreased, remained stable, or increased since the initial test.
- Detecting any resurgence of Fusarium spp. or other pathogens mid-season allows farmers to take prompt action and implement appropriate disease control measures.
- BeCrop® Test's advanced technology identifies microbial DNA associated with Fusarium spp., offering precise and reliable data on disease presence. BeCrop® is powered by the world’s largest taxonomic database of references of microorganisms!
- Armed with this knowledge, farmers can fine-tune their disease management strategies, adjust crop rotation plans, or implement targeted fungicide applications, if necessary.
3. BeCrop Management - Monitoring Management Practices
Beyond plant disease presence, BeCrop® Test allows farmers to monitor the impact of their management practices on the soil microbiome and overall soil health.
- As farming practices vary throughout the season, the soil microbiome responds accordingly. By comparing the results from different tests, farmers can evaluate the effectiveness of specific management practices and optimize their agricultural decisions accordingly.
- For example, farmers can assess the impact of different practices, like tillage, silvopasture, alley-cropping, cover cropping, or organic matter additions on the soil's microbial diversity and abundance.
- Understanding these relationships enables farmers to adopt sustainable practices that promote a healthy soil microbiome, leading to improved crop resilience and reduced disease pressure.
Which one is right for you? Check out the case study below on analyzing fusarium and verticillium fungal diseases with BeCrop.
Case Study: Analyzing fusarium and verticillium fungal diseases with BeCrop Tests
A grower has dealt with sporadic fusarium and verticillium fungal diseases over the years. They typically apply preventative fungicides to all farm blocks. Due to high fungicide prices and potential harm to beneficial fungal species, they hope to reduce fungicide applications and want to determine which fields would be lowest risk.
Insight A: Lower fungal pathogen levels in block C.
Insight B: High fungicidal biocontrol in Block A and Block C. Low fungicidal biocontrol levels in block B.
Agronomic Advice: Do not apply preventative fungicide in block C because it showed low disease pressure and high biocontrol levels; reduce rate in block A because it had higher disease pressure but also high biocontrol, and apply full rate in block B since it showed high disease pressure and low biocontrol.
Conclusion
With Biome Makers's BeCrop® Test, farmers gain a powerful tool to monitor disease presence and track changes in soil health throughout the growing season. By setting up a series of biological soil analysis and leveraging the platform's real-time insights, farmers can proactively manage diseases like Fusarium spp. and implement data-driven decisions to optimize crop performance. The ability to monitor management practices and their impact on soil health further supports sustainable farming practices, fostering a harmonious relationship between agriculture and the environment.
Embracing BeCrop® Test's soil microbiome analysis allows farmers to stay one step ahead of disease outbreaks and ensure the long-term health and productivity of their crops. By harnessing the power of precision soil health insights, farmers can navigate the challenges of modern agriculture with confidence and pave the way for a thriving and sustainable farming future.
