Preliminary evaluation of the potency of crop rotation scheme in the management of plantparasitic nematodes in organic farm in Abeokuta

Abstract

Phytonematodes constitute serious crop production constraints especially in newly established organic farms. A field experiment was conducted at the University of Agriculture in 2010 to determine the effectiveness of sesamesoybean-maize-sunflower rotation in the management of phytophagous nematodes. Seeds of sesame were sown at a spacing of 60 x 5 cm where sunflower were previously grown, Meloidogyne incognita [Mi]-resistant soyabean variety,TGx  1448-2E, was sworn at a spacing of 60 x 5 cm where sesame were previously planted and harvested, each replicated twice. Nematodes in soil were isolated and censured at pre-plant [0day], 45 and 90 days after planting, Gail and root-knot nematodes eggs were extracted and counted at 60 days after planting [DAP], Results showed that sesame and soyabean significantly [p =0.05] reduced Meloidogyne population [15.24% at 45 DAP and further to 22.86 %  at 22.86% at 90 DAP with no observable root gall on the Mi-resistant soyabean variety utilized. While maize enhanced pratylenchhusspp population by 63.53% sunflower known for llellophatic effect reduced pratylenchus spp. Significantly [p = 0.05] by 58.33 % but increased Meloidogyne spp. Population in the soil. These preliminary results attested to the efficaciousness of resistant cultival in the management of root-knot nematodes in organic farms where reliability on chemical nematicide is disallowed.