Do not go home and tell Dad that the professors at SDSU are saying they should quit no-till. Economic and environmental benefits of conservation tillage may outweigh the economic loss of a crop disease. Growers should be aware of the increased potential for disease problems as they adopt conservation tillage. Influence of Crop Residues Residues provide food and a place to live and reproduce for pathogens. Nearly all pathogens spend part of their life cycle on crop residues.
Residues affect the physical and chemical environment of the soil.
Residues also act as organic amendments to intensify microbial activity. Maximizes primary inoculum. Refer to previo us discussion. Inoculum is in close proximity to developing crop. Maximizes chance for infection.