The current disease management in the United States relies heavily on pesticide use, contributing to pest and pathogen resistance, water contamination, and public health concerns. Soybean diseases, such as sudden death syndrome (SDS), damping-off, and root rot, significantly impact soybean productivity, highlighting the urgent need for regenerative and effective management strategies. Our research investigates the potential of biofuel by-products, specifically biochar and solid-state anaerobic digestate, as soil amendments for suppressing two major soilborne pathogens of soybeans: Globisporangium sylvaticum and Fusarium virgulforme. Digestate, a by-product of anaerobic digestion used to produce methane, and biochar, produced through the pyrolysis of organic matter, were evaluated for their disease-suppressive properties under growth chamber conditions. Soil amended with 1% (w/w) solid digestate, sourced from an on-farm anaerobic digester in SE Iowa, demonstrated notable reductions in the severity of root rot caused by Fusarium virgulforme, alongside an increased root length and enhanced root and shoot dry weights. Similarly, biochar derived from yellow pine amended at 2% (w/w) reduced the severity of root rot caused by Fusarium virgulforme. These preliminary findings suggest that biochar and digestate offer dual benefits: suppressing soybean diseases while improving soil health through enhanced nutrient content, water retention, and organic matter levels. Our research addresses global challenges by promoting regenerative and resilient agriculture to mitigate pathogens and strengthen food security. As anthropogenic climate change exacerbates these risks, integrating biochar and digestate into modern agriculture offers adaptive solutions that enhance disease management, protect ecosystems, promote biodiversity, and strengthen the global food supply chain.
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Reducing the Reliance on Pesticides Through Biofuel Industry By-products: The Role of Biochar and Anaerobic Digestate in Disease Management in Soybeans
Published:
31 March 2025
by MDPI
in Plants 2025: From Seeds to Food Security
session Emerging Technologies in Plant Health
Abstract:
Keywords: Agroecology, Plant Pathology, Biochar, Digestate, Sudden Death Syndrome, Disease Management
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