The threat posed by pythium will subside if drier weather returns during the growing season to replace the wet cycle of recent years. But if the overabundance of moisture continues, Therrien said producers concerned about pythium might have some tough decisions to make. In areas where the disease poses a threat, producers who have low-lying areas scattered across their fields might consider more drainage work. Another option would be to plant low-lying areas to crops less susceptible to pythium, such as legumes. If there's a risk that most of the field will become saturated during the growing season, a possible option would be the installation of tiling.
Tiling involves burying perforated pipes beneath the surface of the field.
The pipes capture moisture from the soil and then remove it from the field. Although tiling can be expensive to install, Therrien said that might be an option in chronically wet soil or soil prone to waterlogging. Where it's wet is where pythium is going to cause grief. Send us an e-mail. Not to be republished without permission.