Population of Soil Nematodes in The Treatment of Brassicaceae Plant Waste

Abstract

Population of Soil Nematodes in The Treatment of Brassicaceae Plant Waste Brassicaceae plants are known to contain glucosinolates which can be hydrolyzed into biofumigant compounds. This research was conducted to examine the effect of biofumigant derived from Brassicaceae plants waste on soil nematode population dynamics. Greenhouse experiment was carried out on 4 types of Brassicaceae plants waste, consisting of leaf waste of radish (Raphanus sativus), broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica), cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), and whole parts kamanilan weed (Roripa indica) in polybags containing 5 L of nematode infested soil. Plant waste was chopped ± 1 cm in size, then as much as 117 g per polybag was mixed in nematode infested soil, doused with water until wet and tightly closed for the biofumigation process for 14 days. At the end of biofumigation step, the polybags were opened for 3-5 days, then 7 day - old cucumber seedlings of var. Roberto 92 were planted and the plants were maintained in greenhouse for up to 8 weeks. Observation of the type and population of soil nematodes was carried out three times, i.e. before treatment, after treatment, and 8 weeks after planting. This experiment was designed in a completely randomized design with 6 treatments and 5 replications. The results of the study showed that the population of free-living nematodes (bacteriovorous nematodes and fungivorous nematodes) was increased in all treatment of Brassicaceae plants waste. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in the phytonematodes population in the treatment of broccoli leaf waste. All Brassicaceae wastes was able to suppress population of Helicotylenchus sp., Rotylenchulus sp., and Xiphinema sp., significantly. Leaf waste of broccoli leaves showed the highest inhibition value against all phytonematodes genera with inhibition reached 100%.