ABSTRACT
Crop diseases can be managed by manipulating some cultural practices. The important useful cultural practices that help to reduce disease incidence are described in this chapter. Sanitation is important to prevent the introduction of pathogen inoculum into fields, farms, or communities, and to reduce or eliminate inoculum from diseased fields. Soil solarization and mulching are novel approaches, which are now widely practiced in different parts of the United States, Australia, and many other countries. Organic and inorganic soil amendments are increasingly used to manage diseases. Tillage practices may be useful in reducing disease incidence in some crops. Methods of sowing/planting, irrigation practices, and pruning methods also determine disease incidence. Adjustment of the crop sequence providing a fallow period and growing intercrops, living crop covers, and trap crops are other useful approaches in crop-disease management.
