Summary
This 2021 critical review examines disease-suppressive soils—those naturally resistant to soil-borne pathogens—with emphasis on mechanisms extending beyond crop production to broader ecosystem and human health implications. The authors synthesise current understanding of how soil biological and chemical properties contribute to disease suppression, as suggested by peer-reviewed literature on soil microbiology and plant pathology. The review appears to argue that disease-suppressive soil function warrants consideration within integrated soil health frameworks that acknowledge interconnections between soil biology, food production, and environmental resilience.
Regional applicability
Disease-suppressive soil principles are relevant to UK arable and horticultural systems where soil-borne diseases (e.g. Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Fusarium) constrain productivity. Understanding these mechanisms could inform UK soil health policy and organic/regenerative farming guidance, though applicability depends on confirmation of findings for UK soil types, climate, and pathogen profiles.
Key measures
Disease-suppressive soil characteristics; microbial community composition; pathogen incidence and severity; soil biological and chemical indicators
Outcomes reported
This critical review synthesises evidence on soil-borne disease suppression mechanisms and their role in agricultural and environmental health outcomes. The paper examines how soil microbial communities and chemical properties confer resistance to pathogenic organisms.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.