Cultural Practices for Root-Knot and Root-Lesion Nematode Suppression in Vegetable Crop Rotations

Growers of vegetable crops in the mid-Atlantic have typically used nematicides to control root knot nematodes (RKN) and root-lesion nematodes. The loss of many nematicides from the market due to environmental concerns and constraints of use, such as the length of the period when crops cannot be planted following application for currently labeled fumigant nematicides, have focused attention on the development of alternative methods for managing plant parasitic nematodes.
 
 This publication discusses the use of non-host crops, sorghum sudangrass and castor bean grown as cover crops, RKN-resistant crops, and the application of poultry litter (PL) and PL compost to manage RKN and root-lesion nematode. These methods can be used in vegetable production systems to reduce build-up of nematodes over time, to lengthen the interval between nematicide applications and to provide a non-chemical management approach for organic growers.

Geographic Adaptability: The cultural practices described in this publication were evaluated for nematode control in field and small plot studies in Maryland. The practices described in this fact sheet should be effective in mid-Atlantic vegetable crop production systems where the southern root-knot nematode is the most important root-knot species and where growing season and crop rotations are similar to Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Want more information? See the related SARE grant(s) LNE00-131, Development and Evaluation of Management Alternatives for Root Knot Nematodes and Volunteer Potatoes.