Which management practice should be avoided to control watery soft rot?

Avoiding crop rotation is recognized as a management practice that should be avoided when controlling watery soft rot, primarily caused by pathogens like Pectobacterium and Dickeya species, which thrive in specific, consistent environments. Crop rotation can disrupt the life cycle of these pathogens by introducing crops that are not susceptible to the diseases caused by them.

By staying with the same crop without rotation, the opportunities for pathogens to persist and proliferate in the soil are enhanced, increasing the risk of outbreaks of watery soft rot. This practice does not take advantage of the benefits that rotating different crops can offer in breaking disease cycles and reducing pathogen loads in the soil.

In contrast, increasing water drainage, reducing plant density, and avoiding excess moisture are all beneficial practices that help minimize the conditions favorable for the development of watery soft rot. Good drainage and reduced moisture reduce the potential for the disease to take hold, while decreasing plant density can help improve air circulation and further mitigate moisture retention around the plants.