Which management practice can help mitigate root rot?

Fumigation is a management practice that can effectively mitigate root rot, particularly when the disease is caused by soil-borne pathogens such as fungi. This practice involves applying chemical agents to the soil to eliminate or reduce the population of harmful pathogens before planting or during fallow periods. Fumigants work by penetrating the soil, disinfecting it, and thereby creating a more favorable environment for plant roots to grow without the competition or damage caused by pathogens that lead to root rot.

In contrast, practices such as crop thinning, while beneficial for improving air circulation and light penetration, do not directly address pathogen levels in the soil. Waterlogging increases the likelihood of anaerobic conditions that can exacerbate root rot issues. Frequent nitrogen applications may enhance plant growth but can lead to excessive vegetative growth that further stresses the root system and may not provide a solution to the underlying disease issue. Therefore, fumigation is the most effective choice for directly reducing the incidence of root rot by targeting the pathogens causing the disease.