Seed Health Management for Better Productivity - Govind Ballabh ...

(Seed Health Management for Better Productivity)through supplementary intervention(s). The key components of CMP are, a) plastic mulching (soilsolarization) of nursery beds and fields, b) use of bioagents for seed treatment, seedling treatment, soiltreatment and foliar application, c) Bio-composting including vermi composting and d) use of valueaddedvermicompost and FYM. Other location-specific problems could be addressed throughsupplementary intervention(s).At small farms, it is appropriate to develop disease control strategies that have an ecologicalbase such that the agroecosystem should encourage the growth and diversity of soil inhabiting andepiphytic microorganisms that can exert beneficial and pathogen antagonistic influence. Biologicalcontrol of plant pathogens, broadly refers to the use of one living organism to curtail the growth andproliferation of another, undesirable one, is promising alternative to the use of chemicals. In nature,some microorganisms affect or suppress growth of pathogenic microorganisms. These beneficialorganisms are collectively called as ‘biological control agents or biocontrol agents’. Biologicalprotection against infection is accomplished by destroying the existing pathogen inocula, by preventingthe formation of additional inocula, or by weakening and displacing the existing virulent pathogenpopulation. This is achieved through protection of plant material and roots with biological seedtreatments, or suppression of pathogens by the introduction of plant associated antagonists into therhizosphere. Microbial agents may be stimulated in the plant rhizosphere by the addition ofsuppressive composts such as vemricompost. Vermicomposting, is a natural process by whichearthworms and micro-organisms convert organic waste into humus that is used as a nutrient-rich soilconditioner. Earthworms play a key role in soil biology. They harness beneficial soil microflora, destroysoil pathogens, convert organic wastes into valuable products such as biofertilizers, biopesticides,vitamines, enzymes, growth hormones, and proteineous worm biomass. Use of vermicompost hasbeen found to reduce the menace of white grub, which more often propagates and spreads throughundecomposed farm yard manure. Soil solarization is a ‘low-investment high value’ technology andleads to disease and weed control, better plant stand, health and vigour, and early readiness ofseedlings for planting. Plants emerged out of solarized beds are healthier, grow faster and the bedshave lesser weed population. Value addition of vermicomposts through the incorporation of bioagentsensures goodness of vermicompost and adds value of the bioagents.Root rot complex (caused by Fusarium solani. f.sp. pisi and Rhizoctonia solani) and collar rot(caused by R. solani) are the serious most threats to most vegetables in the nurseries as well as in thefield in most farming situations. Inadequate rotations aggravate crop losses. Use of syntheticchemicals for management of diseases is largely uneconomical and does not fit within the frameworkof ‘organic farming’, the state policy. Through adoption of Common Minimum Programme lossesthrough seed and soil borne diseases could be severely minimized. The ultimate aim is to raisehealthy plant, which can resist/ withstand attacks of biotic and abiotic agents and host plant growthpromoting rhizobacteria and antagonists. This is achieved through maintaining microbial diversity inthe soil, creating conditions suitable for their growth and development through providing habitats fortheir growth. Common minimum programme tends to fulfill these objectives. Through the adoption of- 216 -