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Tobacco Growers Can Start Managing Disease for 2007 Crop Now
By
Aimee Nielson
LEXINGTON, Ky., (Nov. 29, 2006) – With nearly all the 2006
Kentucky tobacco crop in the barn, growers are now focusing on
getting the crop processed and to market. However, even with
their hands full over the next few weeks, growers need to start
thinking about getting a head start on disease management for
next year’s crop.
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Plant Pathologist
Kenny Seebold said 2006 was a rough year in terms of heavy rains
and a sizeable blue mold outbreak, problems which could carry
over to next year without proper planning.
“It’s hard to say what next year’s biggest problem will be,” he
said. “But growers can take some steps now that will go a long
way toward minimizing disease problems in the float bed and with
black shank in the field.”
Seebold said the first thing that comes to mind with disease
management is sanitation. Many diseases in the float bed system
and in the field survive between seasons on equipment and plant
residues, he warned.
“Growers should clean and sanitize transplant houses and outdoor
beds now to cut down on overwintering populations of pathogens,”
he said. “Remove and burn or bury old plant debris and trash
from structures, and make sure to carefully clean and sanitize
transplant trays.”
Tobacco growers also can take steps to prepare fields,
especially where black shank was present. Seebold recommends
turning in all debris as quickly as possible after harvest.
“Keep in mind that the black shank pathogen can survive very
well on tobacco stalks,” he said. “If you leave stalks in the
field, you’re just setting up the perfect environment for future
disease outbreaks and more problems down the road. If growers
plow under crop residues now, you’ll have more time for soil
microbes to break down plant matter, and that will have a great
impact on reducing the pathogens’ survival over the winter.”
Another thing for growers to think about between tobacco crops
is rotation. Seebold believes there is no better way to manage
diseases such as black shank than to rotate with non-related
crops that are do not act as hosts for the disease.
“In general two- to three-year rotations away from tobacco and
related crops like tomato have the greatest impact on soilborne
diseases,” he said. “But even one-year rotations can
dramatically cut down on disease. Even though we are many months
from planting, growers really need to start the planning
process, make field choice decisions and decide on potential
rotation crops.”
Seebold emphasized that successful management of 2007 diseases
begins with careful planning at the end of the 2006 season.
“It seems like a long time off, but planting time will be here
before you know it,” he stressed. “Take time now to build a
strong foundation for a successful disease management program in
your tobacco crop.” |
Contact: Kenny Seebold, 859-257-7445, ext. 80721 |
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of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
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