MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF CRUCIFEROUS CROPS AND EDAPHIC AND WEATHER CONDITIONS RELATED TO CLUBROOT PRESENCE IN EIGHT GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS IN COLOMBIA
Fabián Leonardo Padilla-Huertas: Universidad Nacional de Colombia
<div>Clubroot, caused by <em>Plasmodiophora brassicae</em>, is a major disease of cruciferous crops in Colombia. Nonetheless, there is virtually no information regarding its geographical distribution along the main production areas, neither the environmental factors associated with the disease. On the current study, we surveyed and evaluated the presence of clubroot and its response to management practices and edaphoclimatic factors. In each of 125 horticultural crops fields visited in eight geographic regions, a questionnaire was used to inquire about the prevalence of the disease and crop management methods by the farmer. Soil samples were collected to perform physical and chemical analyses. When cruciferous crops were present, disease intensity was assessed; if not, farmers were asked whether they had ever observed the disease. Clubroot was detected in 53.66% of the fields. Nariño was the only state where clubroot was not found. Management practices and edaphic and weather conditions were correlated with disease data, negative indices were found between disease and liming (-0.23), annual precipitation (-0.2), and days with rain (-0.27). Positive indices were obtained for inclusion of cruciferous crops in rotation schemes (0.45), phosphorus (0.35), calcium (0.34), magnesium (0.25), zinc (0.24), boron (0.22) and sodium (0.22) concentrations in the soil, and cation exchange capacity (0.35). In conclusion, clubroot disease is widely spread along cruciferous production areas in Colombia and its importance is likely to be affected by cropping crucifers, by soil chemistry balances and by precipitation regime.</div>
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