Bacterial spot was reduced in 1997, a year with high bacterial disease pressure, in compost amended plots compared to non-amended control plots. The incidence of anthracnose on tomato fruit was not affected by compost amendments. Yield was not significantly higher in compost-amended plots compared to the control. These results indicate that compost amendments play a valuable role in reducing disease and increasing yields in organic tomato production systems, although not in conventional systems. It is possible that organic soils may better support a microbial community playing a role in induced resistance.
Nutrients provided by composts play a greater role here also.
Nonetheless, bacterial disease was reduced significantly in compost-amended plots in the conventional system, so it is likely that induced resistance is also occurring at some level in this conventional soil. Early ripening of tomatoes in compost-amended soils may provide an economic advantage for processing tomatoes and potentially for fresh market tomato production. Clearly, compost amendments should continue to be studied as a means of increasing sustainability in tomato production. Information on our site was developed for conditions in the Northeast. Use in other geographical areas may be inappropriate.