b'6 Things All Growers Need to Know About Disease Suppressive Soils (DSS)DISEASE SUPPRESSIVEsoils (DSS) are inhospitable environ- #4: 75% of your Beneficial Microbes are Dormant or ments for pathogens. If making your soil disease suppressiveInactiveisnt one of your 2023 goals, you may want to add it. Heres why.Dormant and inactive soil microbes cant create DSS. To support your beneficial microbes, consider:#1: Soilborne Diseases Only Occur if Three Components Rotating your crops to improve microbial diversityare PresentI mplementing a no-till or low-till practice to support a The disease triangle happens when there is a susceptible hosthealthy microbiome(your crops), a conducive environment (your soil), and a virulentFeeding your soil microbes a carbon rich microbial food to pathogen. Growers dont have to address all three componentswake them upto avoid disaster. While integrated pest management (IPM) is Adding organic inputs as an additional food sourcethe best strategy for managing diseases, if one component is controlled properly disease does not occur.#5: Once Awake, Beneficial Microbes Create Inhospitable Environments for Diseases#2: Topple the Disease Triangle by Removing theBeneficial microbes and crops have a symbiotic relationship. Conducive EnvironmentThe microbes need the nutrients and exudates created by your Virulent pathogens will always try to find a way to attack crops.crops. In return, the soil microbes secrete exudates to cause While you can buy disease resistant crop varieties, these candisease-resistant responses from plants. offer varying ranges of disease control. When active beneficial microbes outnumber pathogenic Ensuring the environment isnt conducive to pathogens is amicrobes, they increase competition and block pathogenic great way to avoid soilborne diseases.microbes from accessing vital nutrients. Some beneficial microbes will also secrete antibiotic-like enzymes and release #3: There are Two Kinds of Microbes in Your Soil and Itsexudates to protect your crops. Hyperparasitism and antibiosis Important to Know the Difference can infect and kill pathogenic microbes. Beneficial microbes improve your soil and crop health.By feeding your microbes, you can create DSS and topple the Pathogenic microbes can ruin your harvest. When the beneficialdisease triangle. microbes in your soil are supported, they protect your crops from soil borne diseases and create#6: Activated Soil Microbes Provide A Long List of DSS. Also known as, an uncon- Other Benefits Beyond DSSducive environment.Well-fed microbes also support increased crop yield potential, nutrient retention, water retention and infiltration, and help fertilizer applications go further. If a dog is a farmers best friend, then beneficial microbes are a farms best friend. Make disease suppressive soil one of your goals for 2023. Your crops will thank you.CASSIDY MILLIONDIRECTOR OF AG SCIENCE OF HELIAE AGRICULTURECMillion@heliae.comphycoterra.com40/ SEEDWORLD.COMINTERNATIONAL EDITION 2023'