To develop integrated pest management (IPM) against soil-borne diseases in field grown crops, we seek new options for disease control. Crops, crop residues, soil amendments and cultural methods are known to affect the soil-ecosystem and thus the natural inoculum potential of the soil (IPS) as well as the disease suppressive capacity of the soil-ecosystem. Many publications reported on such effects in qualitative terms. We aim to develop quantitative measurements and risk analyses to allow conscious management based upon choices between fields, crop rotation etc. in order to avoid uneconomic control inputs, yield loss and loss of ‘soil quality’ in a sustainable agriculture.
