Impact of organic soil amendments, including poultry-litter biochar, on nematodes in a Riverina, New South Wales, vineyard

Soil Research ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 604 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Rahman ◽  
M. A. Whitelaw-Weckert ◽  
B. Orchard
Keyword(s):  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Poultry Litter ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Root Disease ◽  
Disease Suppression ◽  
Parasitic Nematodes ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Organic Soil Amendments ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Plant Parasitic

This field trial investigated the effect on vineyard nematodes of organic soil amendments: poultry-litter (PL) biochar, composted cow manure, composted green waste and un-composted rice hulls. To investigate their effects on disease suppression, we chose a vineyard containing healthy grapevines proximal to grapevines with fungal root disease (caused by Ilyonectria spp.). Spring and winter surveys showed that nematodes did not interact with Ilyonectria root disease. Plant-parasitic citrus and ring nematodes predominated in deep soil (10–20 cm), whereas Rhabditis spp. (bacterial-feeder) and omnivorous Dorylaimidae (excluding plant-parasitic and predators) predominated in shallow soil (0–10 cm). After 2 years, the amendments generally decreased the total plant-parasitic nematode (TPPN) populations while increasing the total (non-plant-parasitic) free-living nematodes (TFLN), thus increasing the TFLN : TPPN ratios. PL biochar caused the greatest TPPN decreases (8.5- and 12.9-fold for diseased and asymptomatic grapevines, respectively). The changes caused by the organic amendments were less favourable in a drier season and for diseased grapevines, indicating the importance of seasonal conditions and initial disease status for interpretation of soil organic amendment trial results. This is the first vineyard investigation comparing the impact of PL biochar and other organic soil amendments on parasitic and non-parasitic nematodes.

Management of Plant Parasitic Nematodes Associated with Chilli Through Organic Soil Amendments

2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aly Khan . ◽  
S.S. Shaukat . ◽  
F. Qamar . ◽  
S. Islam . ◽  
A.A. Hakro . ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Parasitic Nematodes ◽  
Plant Parasitic Nematodes ◽  
Organic Soil Amendments ◽  
Plant Parasitic

The role of plant-parasitic nematodes in reducing yield of sugarcane in fine-textured soils in Queensland, Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 620 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. L. Blair ◽  
G. R. Stirling
Keyword(s):  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Parasitic Nematodes ◽  
Plant Parasitic Nematodes ◽  
Root Knot Nematode ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Lesion Nematode ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Stalk Length ◽  
Plant Parasitic

Damage to sugarcane caused by root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) is well documented in infertile coarse-textured soils, but crop losses have never been assessed in the fine-textured soils on which more than 95% of Australia’s sugarcane is grown. The impact of nematodes in these more fertile soils was assessed by repeatedly applying nematicides (aldicarb and fenamiphos) to plant and ratoon crops in 16 fields, and measuring their effects on nematode populations, sugarcane growth and yield. In untreated plant crops, mid-season population densities of lesion nematode (Pratylenchus zeae), root-knot nematode (M. javanica), stunt nematode (Tylenchorhynchus annulatus), spiral nematode (Helicotylenchus dihystera) and stubby-root nematode (Paratrichodorus minor) averaged 1065, 214, 535, 217 and 103 nematodes/200 mL soil, respectively. Lower mean nematode population densities were recorded in the first ratoon, particularly for root-knot nematode. Nematicides reduced populations of lesion nematode by 66–99% in both plant and ratoon crops, but control of root-knot nematode was inconsistent, particularly in ratoons. Nematicide treatment had a greater impact on shoot and stalk length than on shoot and stalk number. The entire community of pest nematodes appeared to be contributing to lost productivity, but stalk length and final yield responses correlated most consistently with the number of lesion nematodes controlled. Fine roots in nematicide-treated plots were healthier and more numerous than in untreated plots, and this was indicative of the reduced impact of lesion nematode. Yield responses averaged 15.3% in plant crops and 11.6% in ratoons, indicating that nematodes are subtle but significant pests of sugarcane in fine-textured soils. On the basis of these results, plant-parasitic nematodes are conservatively estimated to cost the Australian sugar industry about AU$82 million/annum.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document