Title : Soil fumigation prevents soil-borne diseases and its effects on soil microorganisms
Abstract:
Soil fumigants, recognized for their strong diffusion in soil and broad-spectrum inhibition of pathogens, have become an effective method for controlling soil-borne diseases before planting. However, the processes governing the succession and regulation of microbial communities after fumigation remain largely unclear. Our research indicates that the effects of fumigation on microbial diversity vary depending on the type of fumigant used, are influenced by the dosage applied, and tend to diminish over time. Notably, both positive and negative changes in the structure of microbial communities have been observed. Fumigation also alters soil ecological functions, accelerating the conversion and metabolism of key nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium. Among pathogens, Fusarium showed greater resilience to fumigation compared to Ralstonia solanacearum. Interestingly, bacterial community assembly is largely driven by deterministic processes, whereas the assembly of fungal communities appears to follow a more random, stochastic pattern. Soil nutrients, particularly those added through fertilization, are crucial for the rapid recovery of bacterial and fungal populations after fumigation. In fact, there is a significant positive correlation between the rate of microbial recovery and the amount of fertilizer applied. Based on these findings, we developed a comprehensive soil-borne disease control strategy that integrates soil disinfection with microbial community activation. This strategy has already been successfully implemented in crops such as ginger and Panax notoginseng, proving its effectiveness in enhancing crop health and productivity.
