Ray, I've also casually wondered if fertilizer and its components
used as foliar fertilizer might also compound problems with crown rot and
leaf rot under certain circumstances. I have absolutely no proof of this,
but fungal and bacterial growth can be encouraged by the presence of
mineral nutrients. Clearly, just the presence of spores isn't enough for a
plant to become infected- pathogens are all around our plants. The correct
conditions can cause the spores to germinate, find a weak spot, and infect
a plant. Perhaps fertilizers might be a modest contributor to these
problems under less-than-ideal cultural circumstances.

Anyway- I've noticed that I sometimes get a case or two of rot a
few days after fertilizing with urea-based fertilizer. Of course, I
sometimes get a case or two of rot WITHOUT having fertilized a few days
before. But as I think anyone who has ever seen a dilute solution of urea
that has stood around long enough (i.e., an unflushed toilet) will attest,
it sure does grow quite a stink. Could similar solutions applied to plants
cause similar proliferation of organisms?

Most of this is just thinking out loud. I know that in many cases,
pathogens are very different from saprophytes and decomposers. But I also
wonder if anyone has looked into whether the growth of some bacterial and
fungal pathogens is enhanced in the presence of fertilizers. Hmm.

Since I started thinking about this, I've tried to deliver water
and fertilizer only to the roots of my plants. The sample number is pretty
small, but the results are very good.

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-AJHicks
Chandler, AZ