Soilborne Pathogens and Pests

Soilborne pathogens and pests can be managed through biological control and integrated pest management.

Because many pathogens and pests of plants, humans, and animals are organisms that live in the soil at least during part of their life cycle, both biological control of these organisms and integrated pest management involve soil processes and properties.

 Several NIFA research, extension, and education programs address this issue. They include the National Research Initiative programs in Soils and Soil Biology, Biology of Plant-microbe Associations, and Biologically Based Pest Management; the Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program on Integrated Pest Management, and Pest Management Alternatives programs.

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