Abstract
The relationship of crops grown in rotation or in succession has increased every day and the use of antagonistic plants and/or non-host plants is one of the most efficient practices of integrated management of nematodes. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of crotalaria (Crotalaria spectabilis Roth) and millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Leeke] ‘ADR 300’ in reducing the population of Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica and in increasing the productivity of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] when cultivated in succession. The experiment was conducted in an area cultivating okra (host culture) in rotation, with a history of severe infestation by phytonematoids. The experimental design involved randomized blocks with six treatments and four replicates, with the following treatments: T1, 15 kg.ha-1 of millet seeds; T2, 30 kg.ha-1 of crotalaria; T3, 10 kg.ha-1 of millet + 20 kg.ha-1 of crotalaria; T4, 20 kg.ha-1 of millet + 6 kg.ha-1 of crotalaria; T5, 6 kg.ha-1 of millet + 36 kg.ha-1 of crotalaria; and T6, control. The nematode populations in the soil and roots were evaluated about 60 d after planting okra, and the yield was evaluated at the end of the crop cycle. Simple treatment with millet or crotalaria reduced the nematode population by 61% and 72%, respectively. The millet-crotalaria intercropping treatments reduced the nematode population by up to 85% compared with the control. In terms of productivity, there was an increase of 787 kg.ha-1 in the millet treatment and 2,109 kg.ha-1 in the intercropping treatments. Both the single cultivation of crotalaria or millet and the consortia of crotalaria and millet were effective in controlling the root-knot nematodes, and increased the productivity of okra.
Highlights
Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are considered, among all plant-parasitic nematodes, to be the main agents that damage crops worldwide (SAUCET et al, 2016)
Okra plants infested with Meloidogyne spp. exhibit reduced growth, yellowing of leaves and wilting, as the species damages the plant root system, reducing productivity, and can lead to the total loss of the crop (DARAMOLA et al, 2015)
This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of crotalaria, C. spectabilis, and millet, P. glaucum (L.) ‘ADR 300’, in reducing the population of M. incognita and M. javanica and in increasing the productivity of okra cultivated in succession
Summary
Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are considered, among all plant-parasitic nematodes, to be the main agents that damage crops worldwide (SAUCET et al, 2016). In tropical climates, they are even more menacing, as the environmental conditions favor their development and reproduction (HUSSAIN et al, 2012). Okra plants infested with Meloidogyne spp. exhibit reduced growth, yellowing of leaves and wilting, as the species damages the plant root system, reducing productivity, and can lead to the total loss of the crop (DARAMOLA et al, 2015). According to Marin et al (2017), because of the high risk associated with the root-knot nematodes during the cultivation of okra, many studies have sought to find resistant varieties. The chemical control of these phytoparasites is often inefficient, mainly owing to their high population density (FERREIRA et al, 2010)
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