Root Rot a Quiet Alfalfa Killer:Aphanomyces root rot hampers nitrogen uptake and lower yields

摘要

Aphanomyces (aph) root rot is a slow death. It initially causes buckshot yield losses in alfalfa, but the persistent drain mounts to major economic losses over time. When a producer plants a stand and expects it to last four years, but instead is forced to remove it after two years, the switch is costly.The bull's-eye for aph root rot is the north-central U.S. and areas with medium to heavy soils, but it's widespread across the country. The disease weakens seedlings and causes root pruning in established stands, hindering nutrient and water uptake.