Planting in Raised Beds Reduces Root Rot
D. M. Benson and R. K. Jones
N.C. State Univ., Raleigh, NC
Proceed. of So. Nurserymen Assoc. Res. Conf. 1979. 24:1 23-24
Abstract
They reported on research on root rot incidence with azalea 'Hinodigiri' artificially inoculated with
Phytophthora cinnamomi
in May 1978 and planted on beds raised (15-20 cm) above the surrounding terrain. Beds were built up with either field soil or field soil plus pine bark and compared with ground-level beds with and without pine bark. By August 2, 1978 in ground-level beds, the incidence of root rot was 100%. Mortality in ground-level beds in August was 44%. In contrast the mortality in raised field soil beds was 0 and less than 27% by June 1979. Mortality for plants planted on the raised beds built up with field soil plus pine bark was only 5% by August and 27% by June 1979. Thus 'Hinodigiri' azalea may be more tolerant to Phytophthora root rot infection when planted on raised beds than on ground level beds.