CULTURAL-PRACTICES IMPROVE CROP TOLERANCE TO NEMATODES

The effects of organic amendments and crop establishment on nematode d ensities and yields of susceptible vegetable crops were determined in sites infested with Meloidogyne incognita race 1, Paratrichodorus mino r, Pratylenchus spp., and Criconemella spp. Separate experiments were conducted with yellow squash (Cucurbita pepo) and okra (Hibiscus escul entus). In each test, the design was a split plot, involving three com post treatments as main plots (269 mt/ha of a yard waste compost appli ed to the soil surface as a mulch, 269 mt/ha of compost incorporated i nto the soil, and an unamended control) and two methods of crop establ ishment as subplots (transplanted 3-week-old seedlings or direct seedi ng). Final densities (Pf) of Paratrichodorus minor and Pratylenchus sp p. were low (less than or equal to 14/100 cm(3) soil) but were affecte d by compost treatments in some instances. Pf of M. incognita was high (greater than or equal to 270/100 cm(3) soil) in all squash plots, an d all plants were heavily galled (> 100 galls/root system), but M. inc ognita was not affected by any treatment. However, yield of squash was increased by 38% when transplants were used instead of direct seeding , and by 155% when incorporated compost was used as compared to the un amended control. Maximum yield of okra was obtained from transplants i n plots amended with incorporated compost. Results illustrate the pote ntial for use of these cultural practices to improve performance of su sceptible crops grown in nematode-infested sites.