Weather fluctuation can override the effects of integrated nutrient management on fungal disease incidence in the rice fields in Taiwan

Abstract

Both weather fluctuation and farming system influence the epidemiology of crop diseases. However, short-term experiments are difficult to mechanistically extrapolate into long-term ecological responses. Using a mechanistic model with Bayesian inference, long-term data spanning 10 years were used to construct relationships among weather fluctuation (temperature, relative humidity, wind, and rainfall), farming system (conventional and low-external-input farming), and crop disease in experimental rice fields in Taiwan. Conventional and low-external-input farming had similar influences on the disease incidence of rice blast. Temperature had a positive influence on the disease incidence only under high relative humidity. Rainfall positively affected the disease incidence until an optimum level of rainfall. Low-external-input farming, with a lower application of fertilizers and other sustainable nutrient management, achieved similar effects on the disease incidence to those achieved by conventional farming. This suggests that weather fluctuation may override the effect of the farming systems on fungal disease incidence in rice fields.

Gender, rainfall endowment, and farmers’ heterogeneity in wheat trait preferences in Ethiopia

“…About 10 % more men respondents and 9 % more women respondents in rainfall-surplus areas prioritized disease resistance compared with men and women farmers in rainfall-deficit areas, a statistically significant difference. This is consistent with findings in the literature that crop diseases are more severe in areas where rainfall coverage is relatively higher than in low rainfall areas ( Chiu et al, 2022 , Ghini et al, 2011 , Li et al, 2020 ). We found a significant difference of about 12 % in favor of good taste and cooking qualities only for women respondents in rainfall-deficit areas.…”

Preliminary Tests of Tomato Plant Protection Method with Ozone Gas Fumigation Supported with Hydrogen Peroxide Solution and Its Effect on Some Fruit Parameters

“…Both in field conditions and under cover, when growing Solanum lycopersicum, there is a need to provide protection, mainly against fungal pathogens [59]. Even though growing tomatoes under cover protects the plants against direct exposure to rain, which increases the infection of plants with diseases, especially fungal ones [60], it is necessary to protect them with plant protection products [61]. It should be noted that the use of pesticides affects the quality of the produced tomato fruit, mainly by generating residues [62].…”

The effects of chemical fungicides and salicylic acid on the apple microbiome and fungal disease incidence under changing environmental conditions

“…This could be attributed to the significantly greater precipitation in 2019 compared to 2020. Since many fungal pathogens are dependent on splashing rain and lengthy periods of high humidity for dispersal and infection, the dry growing season in 2020 may not have been conducive to the success of these pathogens ( Madden, 1997 ; Chiu et al, 2022 ). Thus, the reduction in microbial diversity, possibly due to unfavorable environmental conditions for apple-associated microbiota, was not a predictor of increased disease susceptibility, as the same environmental pressures were applied to the fungal pathogens.…”