Cheap and effective control methods of club root disease of crucifers: dissemination of information to farmers in three vegetable-producing regions of the country; 1. Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), 2. Sariaya, Quezon, 3. Bukidnon
2012
Cuevas, V.C., Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). Inst. of Biological Sciences
Club root disease of crucifers especially head cabbage caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae Wor., causes financial loses among Benguet farmers of about P45 M per year. Farmers' extensive use of chemical fungicides did not control the disease. Use of Trichoderma microbial inoculant (TMI) as biological control agent resulted in successful control and significantly improved financial status of the farmers. A survey of 400 Benguet head/Chinese cabbage farmer users ad non-users of TMI showed that the effect of the adoption of the technology is positive and statistically significant at 1% level. Adoption increases profit sq m by a average of 30.0%. Farmers' use of TMI in other high value crops cultivated in Benguet similarly showed control of major diseases such as potato tuber rotting and crop mortality caused by bacteria and fungal pathogens. Use also significantly improved yield despite 50% reduction of fertilizer use. The control of the diseases and increased yield resulted in significant increases in farmers' potential profit. The potential environmental impact of the use of the inoculant from the reduced use chemical fungicides was not clearly demonstrated due to farmers' increased use of insecticide with higher yield. More efforts are needed on the campaign for the judicious use of chemical pesticide to realize the ecological and environmental impact of TMI.
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