Why is a crop rotation so important?
It may sound like a hustle, spending days to weeks on a proper crop rotation. However, nothing is more important to secure your crop yield! It is a vital part of an effective biosecurity protocol, to prevent, minimize and manage the introduction and spread of pathogens in your greenhouse to the fullest. Moreover, in a broader context, it can reduce the outbreak of new and unknown or re-emerging pathogens. The two main aspects of a crop rotation protocol are cleaning and disinfecting, which will be explained below.
Cleaning
Remove >90% of microorganisms
Cleaning is the first step in a successful crop rotation protocol. If this step is not included, the next step, disinfecting, will not be as effective as intended. By thorough cleaning, you remove organic matter, soiling, plant
debris,… all loved habitats of unwanted microorganisms. You should use a detergent for this purpose, ideally with a deep cleaning activity to remove already > 90% of the microorganisms.
Disinfecting
Kill >99.999% of microorganisms
Next, the disinfection step needs to be included. For this, you need a registered biocidal product, ideally active against bacteria, viruses, fungi and spores. Make sure to use the correct dosage and contact time, as these
parameters are defi ned according to standardized tests to produce an optimal outcome.