Relay Cropping with Tomato to Control Fungal Diseases

Garlic is an important dry season cash crop grown by many small farmers in the Ilocos Region. However, like many other crops, its production is hampered by several problems, one of which is the insect pest and disease infestation. Two of the major garlic diseases are Cercospora leaf spot and purple blotch which are caused by fungi.

Results of the study by Abrina et al. (MMSU) show that relay cropping with tomato significantly reduces the infection of Cercospora leaf spot and purple blotch of garlic. Relay cropping does not only reduce the occurrence of the two major fungal diseases of garlic, but also increases the income of garlic farmers by P58,704.54/ha from garlic and tomato harvests.

For best results, observe the following recommendations:

• Sow tomato seeds simultaneously with the planting of garlic so that tomato seedlings will be ready for transplanting after 1 month.
• Follow cultural management practices for garlic and tomato seedling establishment.
• Transplant the tomato seedlings, one month after planting garlic. By this time, the seedlings shall already have 3-5 true leaves and are ready for transplanting.
• Transplant tomato seedlings in the late afternoon at a distance of 1.5 m between rows and 50 cm between hills.
• Topdress 30 kg N/ha and irrigate garlic during transplanting of tomato. No additional fertilizer is applied for the relay-cropped tomato.
• Replant missing hills 1 week after transplanting.
  

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