Testing the viability of poultry droppings as an option in the management of soil nematodes on <i>Capsicum annuum</i> plant

Abstract

A survey to evaluate the viability of poultry droppings as a management option for the control of plant parasitic nematodes was tested on Capsicum annuum. Bell pepper monoculture farms cultivated conventionally and another with poultry droppings as fertilizer were surveyed. Soil samples were collected using a hand trowel while roots were collected by means of kitchen knife. Plant parasitic nematodes extraction was done by using sieve plate method. Nematodes were identified using the light microscope of x4 and x10 objectives, and identification was done using a pictorial key. Roots assay from the conventional far revealed a total of 175 endophytic nematodes from 10 genera while 56 nematodes from 6 genera were extracted from the farm with poultry droppings. Nematode dynamics in diversity was observed such that certain nematode genera such as Meliodogyne, Radopholus, Pratylenchus, Ditylenchus, Hoplolaimus, Rhaditis were reported in both plots. Phyto-parasitic species were predominant at the conventional farm plot whereas nematodes predatory species recorded higher populations in the farm plot with poultry droppings, an observation which depict that parasitic nematodes could be inhibited by the presence of free living species. This observation further suggests that poultry droppings can adequately fit in as a management of nematodes management if properly harmonised.