Herbs field day covers soil issues:Trade body focus on soil health and moisture retention

摘要

Maintaining and improving soil health and moisture retention was the main theme of the British Herb Trade Association (BHTA) field day at Millets Farm in Oxfordshire on 25 August. Tozer Seeds leafy salads account manager Alec Roberts explained how biofumigation "is an ancient form of biocontrol" now being boosted by modern seed breeding.The Surrey seed supplier's Caliente 199 variety is "hottest" due to its high levels of glucosinolates—a class of compounds that brassicas use as a form of self-defence but that have largely been bred out ofedible varieties. When acted on by the enzyme myrosinase it gives rise to isothiocyanate, which is believed to control a wide range of soil-borne pests and pathogens, and even to suppress weeds.