Researchers at Cornell University have found that earthworm castings (especially compost using different species of earthworms) are not only excellent fertilizer, but can also help greenhouse farmers prevent common pathogens. Working with New York compost producers, they have found organic methods to improve crop health with less environmental impact.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11360/
Building on research led by Professor Eric Nelson, Allison Jack, a doctoral student in Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, stated that beneficial bacteria in earthworm castings can colonize the seed surface and release a substance that interferes with the chemical signals between host and pathogen, protecting it from infection.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11360/
Jack stated: "We know that this microorganism does release something that zoospores dislike. The next step is to study what it is."Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11360/
The main work of Eric Carr, a master's student in the Nelson laboratory, is to study the ability of earthworms to suppress Pythium aphanidermatum at different stages of its life cycle. The swimming spores of Pythium aphanidermatum can infect seedlings shortly after germination, causing the seedlings to damp off or wilt.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11360/
Carr: "At some point, humans will need to use this type of natural resource efficiently. By then, we will understand better how it works."Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11360/
Research shows that certain composts can suppress diseases, but among the tens of thousands of microorganisms in good compost, it is still unknown which strains can suppress which diseases. Another problem facing the identification and manipulation of these suppressive microbial strains is the variability among different composts.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11360/
To overcome this problem, Jack turned to 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 farm manure that is regularly monitored, his product has high consistency and good quality, making it very suitable for use by farmers and scientists like Jack.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/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 it. Do we still need chemical agents?"Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11360/
If the Environmental Protection Agency allows Herlihy to sell this type of biopesticide product, there will be economic benefits.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11360/
Another related research topic at Cornell University focuses on the organic fertilizer efficacy 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.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/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 benefit environmental health."Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11360/
Source: Organic Information NetworkArtikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11360/