Research on passive crops in the United States

Farmers are always looking for ways to maintain or increase their yields and develop crops that are resistant to pests, diseases and heat. Many farmers grow tomatoes in Florida. The systems they use require lots of water, nutrients and crop protection products to control pests and diseases. Farmers usually spray to control pests and diseases. But it doesn’t always work.

€648.000
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture has awarded UF/IFAS Associate Professor Sarah Strauss a $648,000 grant to explore pest and disease control options. He should explore how the productivity of the soil can be increased. “We are investigating how to make intensive farming methods more efficient,” says Sarah. “How to Improve Soil to Reduce Disease and Pest Pressure?”

Sarah and her colleagues first researched tomatoes because they are widely grown in Southwest Florida. He and his colleagues hope their results can be used by farmers in the southeast of the country. “We want to fight diseases and pests, which ensures better productivity,” says Sarah. He is a faculty member at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee. “We hope our findings will give farmers more control over the nutrients they use to grow their crops, which will reduce costs for farmers.

Rest crops
Farmers use so-called dormant crops when the land is fallow. They do not earn any money from these dormant crops, but they are used to cultivate the soil. Among other benefits, certain dormant crops, such as hemp, can reduce the chance of nematodes damaging crops. “Resting crops will also change the microbes so the crops will need less fertilizer,” says Sarah. “Changing soil microbes can help plants retain nutrients. Rest crops can protect plants against certain diseases.”

Bran: ifas.ufl.edu