Preparation and Evaluation of an Artificial Lightweight, High-Moisture-Retention Organic Growing Medium Enriched with Trichoderma viride for the Control of Fungal Diseases

Abstract

Soil degradation and associated issues such as water loss, salinity, and nutrient depletion have become major problems affecting world agricultural production and food security. These risks are worsened in the presence of soil-borne plant diseases, especially those caused by fungi, and are exacerbated under stressful conditions such as drought and salinity. To attain sustainable farming, there is an increasing interest in adopting improved organic growing media (e.g. peat moss, coco-peat, compost) to improve the physical and chemical characteristics of soils as well as to minimize the transmission of diseases. Trichoderma viride has been developed as a biological product to stimulate plant growth, pathogen resistance and nutrient uptake. A growth medium made of sawdust and plant residues mixed with cow manure and supplemented with T. viride was evaluated. Garden cress was cultured in this medium and four treatments were compared: the organic medium in the presence or absence of the pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani and corresponding treatments in plants grown in a conventional soil mixture. Growth indicators, including germination rate, plant height, biomass, and growth rate, as well as disease severity were measured. R. solani had a negative effect on growth indicators. The organic medium supplemented with T. viride mitigated disease severity and enhanced the germination rate, growth rate and plant biomass. Using organic growth medium in combination with T. viride enhanced plant growth and productivity, and controlled soil-borne fungal infections, without usin chemical pesticides.

Keywords:

Soil degradation, soil moisture management, organic growth medium, biological control.