Influence of Tillage and Fertilizer Regime on Presence of Select Fungal Species in a Silt Loam Soil.

Varying tillage and fertilizer applications in corn research plots have been established for ten years.  The research is being conducted in a split plot design where tillage (conventional or no-till) is the primary factor and the fertilizer source (1/2 organic, 1/2 inorganic) is the secondary factor.  The presence of select pathogenic organisms (Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, Pythium, and Fusarium) within these plots will be detected through DNA isolation and PCR and then analyzed in accordance to tillage-to-fertilizer ratios.  It will be determined which tillage-to-fertilizer treatment best minimizes the presence of the selected pathogenic organisms.