Role of Plant Nutrients on Plant Diseases

Nutrients are important for growth and development of plants and also microorganisms and help to build and repair tissues, regulate body processes and are used as energy and overall growth and development of plant. Mineral nutrition plays a very important role in the imparting or prevention of plant disease and in the resistance of plants to diseases. All essential plant nutrients influence the health of plants and their susceptibility to diseases. All the nutrients have their effect on the plant diseases, some imparts the diseases but others inhibit the disease. All nutrients are not having equal effect on all the pathogens, Nitrogen may favour one pathogen but, inhibit others. Moreover, the form of nutrients and the concentration ratio of nutrients play a major role in variability of different diseases. Although disease cannot be totally eliminated by any particular nutrient, the severity of the disease can be greatly reduced by adequate nutrition. Growers must use proper fertilizer programs, based on soil tests, plant analysis and disease monitoring. So in this regard we have to identify the proper nutrient management practises for particular crops in order to minimise the diseases. These should be done by incorporating integrated nutrient management in crop production so that the disease can be managed without use or minimum use of chemicals. It is an eco-friendly method of managing the disease.