How to treat soil in autumn against diseases and pests

Over the course of the growing season, various pathogenic bacteria and infections accumulate in the soil, which can cause serious damage to the crop. Thoroughly treating the soil in the fall to control diseases and pests will help eliminate insects and animals that damage crops and suppress outbreaks of plant pathogens.

How should the soil be treated in the fall after harvest, and how can plants be protected from pests and diseases? If the soil is severely infested, more radical methods are used: removing the topsoil, irrigating the soil with strong chemicals, and sowing green manure. More gentle methods include using tobacco smoke, herbal infusions, and soil freezing.

How to prepare the soil for autumn cultivation

Before treating the soil for diseases and pests in the fall, it's important to clear the soil of roots and weeds. Dry leaves and tops can harbor pests or their larvae. Leaving debris in the soil for even a few days can encourage the development of pathogenic microorganisms.

Then, dig the soil with a pitchfork, shovel, or cultivator—this is the simplest and most cost-effective way to prepare the land for winter. In areas where early crops are planned for planting in the spring, dig to a depth less than the length of a shovel blade.

Digging can be carried out in the following ways:

1. The no-till method preserves the soil's natural microflora. This method doesn't break up or turn the soil lump.
2. The moldboard method buries weed seeds deep into the soil, preventing them from germinating, while pest larvae are brought to the surface and die as soon as cold weather sets in. With the moldboard method, the excavated soil ball is turned over and the top layer is worked in to the depth of a spade blade.

Each gardener decides for themselves which digging method is best. In both cases, it's important not to break up the soil clods; this will prevent the soil from freezing and will make it more crumbly in the spring.

The final stage of preparatory work for soil cultivation in the fall is the removal of infected plants and leaves.

Use of chemicals for preventive purposes for autumn soil disinfection

Another important step in autumn soil treatment is the use of chemicals. The most popular among gardeners are iron and copper sulfate, and Bordeaux mixture. These are applied when the weather is cold and the entire crop has been harvested.

The rules for cultivating greenhouse and open-field beds are generally similar, but there are some differences. The main diseases of greenhouse and open-field crops are primarily fungal in origin: powdery mildew, late blight, fusarium, and cladosporiosis.

Here is a short list of what to use to treat the soil in a greenhouse in the fall:

1. Ferrous sulfate is used to combat many pests and diseases, including fungus, lichen, moss, and more. It can be used on both shrubs and trees. Use 1 kg of sulfate per 10 square meters. In addition to controlling pests, this product also provides iron to the plants.
2. Copper sulfate and 3% Bordeaux mixture are excellent preventatives against many fungal and infectious diseases. They are used to treat both the soil and the plants themselves.

For open ground, you can use preparations such as:

• Topaz – dilute 4–8 ml in 20 liters of water and spray on plants and the soil beneath. This product is effective against rust, gray rot, fruit rot, and powdery mildew.
• Hom is effective against almost all fungi and bacteria. For one large tree, 20 g of powder dissolved in 5 liters of water is sufficient.
• Fitosporin – apply it to your garden immediately after preparing a solution (3 teaspoons of concentrate per 10 liters of water). It's effective against white and brown rust, scab, and brown rot.

When choosing what to treat the soil with in the fall before winter, it is important to choose the right form of chemical preparation:

1. Granular products are small in size and effectively combat insects and microorganisms. They are not dispersed by the wind.
2. Powdered pesticides are used in agricultural enterprises.
3. Liquids – this form of pesticide is most suitable for treating soil in a summer cottage.

When handling chemicals, it is necessary to use protective equipment (gloves, respirators, glasses).

It's important to pay attention to dosage and soil conditions. Using powerful products "by guess" can cause significant damage to the soil.

Organic methods of pest and disease control

Organic means of combating diseases and pests include:

1. Manure – it is worth adding it in the fall, since most of the weeds will sprout and can be removed by loosening before planting the main crop.
2. Compost – in the fall, organic elements from the added compost reach optimal moisture content and easily mix with the soil.
3. Peat is a good additive for improving soil.
4. Soil liming – lime, chalk, ash and other liming additives.

Organic fertilizers are safe to use and will also enrich the soil with nutrients and help fight diseases and pests.

Methods of disease and pest prevention

The first step in combating soil diseases and pests is clearing the area of ​​plant debris, which could harbor pests or their larvae. All collected leaves and branches should be burned in designated areas or composted.

When combating diseases and pests, it's important to remember the importance of crop rotation: it's long been established that plants grow better the following season after some crops, while others perform worse. Therefore, crop rotation is essential, including the use of green manure. This practice not only helps control pests but also improves soil health.

Thus, autumn soil cultivation involves:

1. High quality mechanical processing.
2. Application of organic fertilizers.
3. Use of microbiological preparations.
4. Compliance with crop rotation rules.

By following these rules, you can effectively combat pests and diseases, as well as enrich the soil with nutrients.