Choice of location

To ensure the containment of fungal diseases, the choice of microclimate, site and soilis essential. Rapid drying ensures that infection pressure from fungal diseases is kept to a minimum. Wind-open locations are therefore a prerequisite for good air circulation. This is supported by an eastward orientation of sloping sites (vineyards) and an optimization of planting and foliage density of the crop.

The creation of entry points for fungal diseases (viticulture: Erysiphe necator, Plasmopara viticola) through frost cracking is a special issue. Especially due to climate change in recent years, frost locations are becoming the main problem in fruit and wine growing. Flat sites and depressions should be avoided because of the formation of cold lakes. Slopes are less susceptible to frost because the cold can run off. However, shaded sites and north-facing slopes are also gaining in importance. They have an advantage in late frosts due to later bud break. Frost damage can additionally be minimized by using oil products for delayed bud break.

A large number of pathogens in the soil are preserved for many years in the form of permanent spores or similar formations such as sclerotia and microsclerotia (often significantly longer than there are residues of plant tissue in the soil). Nevertheless strict adherence to crop rotation is a prerequisite for disease prevention. When cultivating predominantly non-susceptible species or varieties, diseases with a restricted host range can be "starved out". Some species can only survive as long as at least parts of their host plant are present in the crop. This is usually 1-2 years.

However, special attention is given to non-host-specific pathogens and to disease species that persist in the soil for a long time. Crop breaks of up to 20 years are necessary for persistent diseases, such as Phytophthora cactorum in raspberries and blackberries. In this extreme case, it is recommended to switch from soil to substrate culture, where infected plants can be easily removed from the culture. In the case of infestation with particularly infectious diseases, e.g. in soft fruit (Phytophthora) and in cereals Tilletia caries, long cultivation breaks of 10 years are the rule. In arable farming, sufficient cultivation intervals must be observed, especially for potatoes and legumes, because of soil-borne diseases (4-5 years for potatoes, 5 years for pea and lentil; 3 years for field bean). In addition, in legume cultivation, sufficient intervals to forage legumes or green cover (alfalfa, red clover, sainfoin) must be considered. In orchards, extreme postplanting due to growth depression due to soil fatigue is taking place nowadays. The reason is not sufficiently understood. It is probably a multitude of pathogens. Steaming the cultivated area can remedy this situation!

Soil structure and soil type also have a direct influence on fungal disease infestation. The risk of fungal diseases is particularly high in moist, heavy soils. Cultivation techniques such as ridging or bedding can help by increasing the distance from the crop to the soil, thus promoting warming and drying. Root-borne diseases such as Verticillium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium occur more frequently in compacted soils. Looser soils are therefore particularly important in horticulture and arable farming. This can be achieved primarily by green manuring. Active loosening is achieved with deep-rooting species (clover, alfalfa, yellow mustard, Phacelia). In viticulture and orchards, perennial greening before cultivation is useful. It is important to note that alfalfa should be avoided in Orchards because of disease transmission of Verticillium and Phytophtora.

Not all diseases have the same growth requirements. For arable and vegetable crops, drought helps well with fungal pressure, but poor water availability negatively affects the crop for bacterial diseases. Loss of turgor can cause wilting to occur more quickly in damaged crops. Avoid intermediate hosts in the immediate vicinity of the crop! Forest edges and windbreak hedgerows pose a higher risk of infection for pathogens without host specificity. For host-specific pathogens, the intermediate host can be specifically avoided e.g.: Juniper for european pear rust.