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Principles and Methods for Sustainable Disease Management in Rainfed Agricultural Systems

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Rainfed Farming Systems

Abstract

Plant diseases are a major constraint to productivity in rainfed agricultural systems. This chapter examines the nature of diseases in cropping systems, thresholds for management, major management tools, integrated disease management and the challenges for translating knowledge into practice. Inputs for disease management should be based on well-defined thresholds, but these are poorly developed for most diseases and regions. Disease management in rainfed agriculture relies mostly on alterations to crop husbandry and the use of resistant varieties; fungicide use is generally restricted to tactical application in higher value crops. Many tools such as rotation, nutrition and management of crop residues interact strongly with other components of the farm system and their effective use requires complex decisions. Much of the information required to give sustainable control of most crop diseases in rainfed agriculture is already known. There is a continuing need to convert this knowledge into forms that can be used for on-farm decision making, especially in traditional and marginal areas.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (http://www.cgiar.org/).

  2. 2.

    Disease common names and the botanical names of their causal organisms are listed in a glossary at the end of the book.

  3. 3.

    See Glossary.

  4. 4.

    See Glossary for definition.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of New England, Armidale, Australia

    David Backhouse

  2. National Plant Protection Centre, Thimphu, Bhutan

    Thinlay

Authors
  1. David Backhouse
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  2. Thinlay
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Backhouse .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Gawler, South Australia, Australia

    Philip Tow

  2. Alexander Avenue, Bibaringa, 5118, South Australia, Australia

    Ian Cooper

  3. Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

    Ian Partridge

  4. Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Rese, Leader, Vegetable Centre, Burnie, 7320, Tasmania, Australia

    Colin Birch

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Backhouse, D., Thinlay (2011). Principles and Methods for Sustainable Disease Management in Rainfed Agricultural Systems. In: Tow, P., Cooper, I., Partridge, I., Birch, C. (eds) Rainfed Farming Systems. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9132-2_9

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