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CULTURAL
CONTROL OF PESTS AND DISEASES
The most important means of combating pests and diseases is by good cultural practice. Thorough preparation of the soil before planting or sowing will ensure that plants are given a good start. Composting and liming may be needed, depending on local soil conditions and the requirements of the plants. Most plants will benefit from a regular supply of water, especially if dry spells of weather coincide with critical stages in the plants’ growth, such as germination, bud formation, flowering and fruiting. Mulching the soil surface with well-rotted compost, grass clippings, green manure clippings, or some similar layer of organic matter, will help to retain soil moisture, as well as providing some nutrients and suppressing weeds. Seeds should be sown at the correct time, taking into account local conditions, because if they are sown prematurely or too late, the plants may fail to thrive. The reason for this is that each variety is sensitive to a particular soil temperature and to light levels. Sowing at the optimum time for each variety will ensure that they get established and growing on as sturdy plants. Similarly, germination will be poor if the seeds are sown at the wrong depth. The rate of sowing is also important because sowing too densely would result in seedlings that are thin, weak, and susceptible to disease as they would compete with each other for water, nutrients and space. Note that practising Crop Rotation will not be all you have to do to give plants enough nutrients. It is necessary to put into the soil an equal amount to what is coming off the land in terms of a crop. ROTATION
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