Organic soil amendments in nematode management in yam production

2013

english

The potentials of organic soil amendments (OSA) to control plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) infection in yam production were evaluated in Ghana. The ability of organic soil amendments; neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seed powder, cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) bean testa powder and cowitch (Mucuna pruriens L.) seed powder to suppress PPN in yam were compared to Fulan (a synthetic pesticide) and a non-treated control. The organic soil amendments suppressed Pratylenchus and Rotylenchulus soil population densities compared to the control. M. pruriens also reduced soil populations of Meloidogyne and Scutellonema with reductions similar to nematicide application. Only M. pruriens reduced population densities of plant parasitic nematodes in yam tubers compared to the control. There were no differences in yield. Mucuna pruriens treated plots yielded 32.1 t/ha while the control yielded 17.4 t/ha. In terms of relative yield, M. pruriens treated plots were 1.84 times higher than the control. The application of organic materials may be sufficient to keep some nematode populations below the economic threshold level.

Osei, K.; Otoo, E.; Danso, Y.; Adomako, J.; Agyeman, A.; Asante, J. S.