Sustainable reuse of plant waste through biofumigation: controlling soil-borne pathogens and enhancing soil health via microbial regulation

Abstract

Soil-borne pathogens severely impact soil health and crop growth. Biofumigation is an eco-friendly method and supports global efforts to reduce chemical fertilizers and pesticides. However, the application in China is limited mainly due to high cost. There is a lack of systematic research on how plant waste biofumigation can improve soil health. We were the first to systematically examine the effects of biofumigation with cabbage and cauliflower wastes on soil and plant factors, and their contributions to crop growth.