Comparative effects of effective microorganism activated solution, leaf extracts and carbofuran on the growth and yield of cucumber planted on Meloidogyne incognita infested soil

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted between 2014 and 2016 on the effects of effective microorganism activated solution (EMAS), carbofuran and some plant leaf extracts (Azadirachta indica and Tithonia diversifolia) on the performance of cucumber planted on root-knot nematode (RKN) infested soil. The trials were carried out on two separate fields in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016, each measuring about 15 m x 10 m. The experimental designs were randomized complete block, comprising of five treatments (EMAS, Azadirachta indica, Tithonia diversifolia Carbofuran and control). Each treatment was randomly assigned to a plot in a block and replicated three times. After land preparation, Cucumber seed cv. Monalisa F1 which is nematode susceptible was planted and inoculated with 2000 J2 M. incognita two weeks after planting while treatments were applied one week after inoculation. The result from the experiment showed that all the cucumber treated with EMAS, plant extract and carbofuran resulted into significantly (P < 0.05) increased vegetative growth and fruit yield compared with the control. Nematode soil population and root gall index were reduced in plant extract and carbofuran treated soil while it remained high in EMAS and not significantly (P < 0.05) different from the control. Phytochemical screening of the plant extracts revealed the presence of alkaloid, tannin, flavonoid and saponin. EMAS did not bring about reduction in soil nematode population as it was not significantly (P < 0.05) different from the control but recorded the highest yield showing that it strengthened the tolerance level of cucumber to nematode attack.