Researchers at Cornell University have found that earthworm castings (especially compost using different species of earthworms) are not only excellent fertilizers, but can also help greenhouse farmers prevent common pathogens. Working with New York composters, they have found an organic method to improve crop health with less environmental impact.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11360/
Building on research led by Professor Eric Nelson, Allison Jack, a doctoral student in the Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, stated that beneficial bacteria in earthworm castings can colonize seed surfaces and release a substance that interferes with the chemical signals between host and pathogen, protecting the seed from infection.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11360/
Jack stated: "We know that this microorganism does release something that zoospores dislike. The next step is to study what it is."文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11360/
The main work of Eric Carr, a master's student in the Nelson laboratory, is to study the suppressive ability of earthworms at different stages of the life cycle of Pythium aphanidermatum. The zoospores of Pythium aphanidermatum can infect seedlings shortly after germination, causing the seedlings to damp off or wilt.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11360/
Carr: "At some point, humans will need to use this type of natural resource efficiently, and by then we will understand better how it works."文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11360/
Research shows that certain composts can suppress diseases, but there are thousands upon thousands of microorganisms in good compost, and it is still unknown which strain can suppress which diseases. Another problem facing the identification and manipulation of these suppressive microbial strains is the variability among different composts.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11360/
To overcome this problem, Jack approached Tom Herlihy (Tom operates Worm Power company in the Avon area of New York State). The company produces 2.5 million pounds of earthworm castings annually. Because his raw material is dairy manure from regularly monitored farms, his product is highly consistent and of good quality, making it very suitable for use by farmers and scientists like Jack.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11360/
Herlihy: "In the United States, chemical agents are used to treat seeds. If our earthworm castings can suppress Pythium, then we can use earthworm castings to solve the problem. Do we still need chemical agents?"文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11360/
If the Environmental Protection Agency allows Herlihy to sell this type of biopesticide product, there will be economic benefits.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11360/
Another related research topic at Cornell University focuses on the organic fertilizer effect of earthworm castings. Neil Mattson, assistant professor in the Department of Horticulture, recently received a $203,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study how organic farmers can incorporate earthworms into potting media to achieve better nutrient management. This three-year research project will begin this spring.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11360/
Mattson: "Many organic farmers tell us that fertilization is the most difficult problem to solve. People in the organic circle are doing good things. We would very much like to make their production systems more profitable, and we also hope to see more production systems that are beneficial to environmental health."文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11360/
Source: Organic Information Network文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11360/