Basal Rot, Diseases and Pests, Growing Daffodils, Nematode, Soil

Organic approach

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The NYTimes article about Harvard’s organic approach is useful, although necessarily general for newspaper purposes. I have been doing a lot of internet research over the past few years, and it seems clear that science-based knowledge about the organic aspects of soil/plant relationships has been growing rapidly over the past few decades. The question is how to incorporate this knowledge into our growing systems. For those interested in increasing their knowledge about the subject and getting down to the specifics, I recommend some internet research. Start with terms like microorganisms, micorrhizae, VAM, glomus, trichoderma and go on from there. You will find interesting and, I think, useful practical information about plant growth and nutrient uptake and about natural defenses against basal rot (fusarium) and perhaps nematodes. Much is already known, and we don’t need to reinvent the wheel, but there is a lot that still needs to be found out, especially as it relates specifically to narcissus culture.

1 comment for “Organic approach”


  1. Friends:

    I’d looked for sources of trichoderma on earlier occasions, having read of the success that the NZ growers have with it, but I hadn’t found a domestic source.  Thinking from his message that Bob must have, I went looking again.  I suggest some leads here for others who may have an interest:

    Here are some brand names to help your search:
    Binab, BinabT, Bio-Fungus, Bio-Trek, RootShield, Supresivit, T-22, TopShield, Trichodex, Trichopel

    These came from the book (on Google Books)  Hemp Diseases and pests:  managment and biological control By John Michael McPartland, Robert Connell Clarke, David Paul Watson

    One search string I found useful was:  Bio-Trek fungicide fusarium

    http://www.bioworksinc.com/
    this is the site of the manufacturer of several products.

    http://www.bioworksinc.com/productsections/hortprod.html
    the listing of the products

    http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/ipr/i4183_829.html
    "BIO-TREK (trichoderma harzianum)√Bio Works Inc√As a result of the IR-4 Project, they may now add to their label the use on daffodils, lilies, and tulips. [fungicide]"

    http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/bcconf/talks/harman.html
    Cornell holds the patent from which BioTrek is manufactured.  Here’s an old 1996 talk from a Cornell conference.

    That’s all for tonight.  I’d appreciate any specifics anyone else has found.

    Melissa


      

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