Following on from Aspect 1 of this write-up the place we talked about what root knot nematode (RKN) is, the indicators and some delicate choices for manage, in this post, we glance at the relaxation of the tools that can be applied in an built-in handle method.
Crop Rotation with Tolerant Crops
Rotate susceptible crops, or crops which have turn out to be badly contaminated, with crops of brassicas this sort of as cauliflower and cabbage or other crops these as strawberries.
Latest exploration has also demonstrated that the addition of forage brassicas (a kind of mustard) to the soil not only provides excess organic and natural issue – consequently aiding to boost soil composition – but also allows to control nematodes and will help to reduce weed seed from germinating. The explanation for this is that all brassicas deliver a chemical which breaks down in moist soil to make a cyanide-like gas. This reduces soil borne health conditions (regrettably, some good microbes too) and also allows to cut down nematodes (but does not appear to be to have an impact on earthworms). There is a certain brassica recognised as ‘Nemcon Fumigation Brassica’ which generates higher concentrations of gasoline than the other brassicas.
Forage brassicas should really be planted in autumn and dug in just prior to flowering while maintaining the soil moist. They can be also slashed and still left on the area – while this is not rather as helpful – exactly where it is impractical to dig it in (because of pipes and many others).
A extensive range of other vegetation, create substances that are antagonistic to nematodes. These contain: castor bean, chrysanthemum, crotalaria, indigo, jackbean, partridge pea, sesame, sorghum-sudan and velvet bean. All of these crops can be used in rotations or mix-cropped with greens. Sun hemp, a tropical legume, and sorghum-sudan, a prolific grass crop plant are popular protect crops that can be grown for their nematode-suppressive homes concerning vegetable crops.
Soil Solarisation
Soil solarization as explained by Wikipedia is “an environmentally helpful technique of making use of photo voltaic energy for controlling disorder agents in the soil by mulching the soil and masking it with tarp, ordinarily with a transparent polyethylene deal with, to entice photo voltaic strength. It might also describe approaches of decontaminating soil applying sunlight or solar electricity”.
Primarily, this is a technique of heating the soil so as to eliminate insect pests, conditions and nematodes. It is uncomplicated, low cost and helpful.
Rotation and Inter-planting With Marigolds
Most types of marigold (Tagetes species) are resistant to RKN because their roots secrete nematicidal chemical compounds. Exploration displays that tomatoes planted 2 months just after African marigolds have been dug in confirmed a 99% reduction root lesion nematode (various from RKN, but a harmful nematode even so). This can make marigolds an great rotation crop or inter-planting crop to be planted in just or all over your vegetable crop. Petite Harmony and Petite Yellow are recognised to be particularly productive.
If you want to deal with a previously infected area of your veggie backyard garden, plant your marigolds in strips or blocks within just this place. You can treat a section of your veggie patch at a time. To do this, plant seed or seedlings about 15 cm (6 inches) apart and preserve weeds out till the marigold vegetation have canopied. Soon after flowering, remove the seed heads and preserve some seed for the upcoming crop. Removing heads will also lessen volunteers in your subsequent veggie crop. Right after eradicating the heads, incorporate the marigolds into the soil with a fork. (A fork is greater than a spade, particularly if you have good populations of earthworms in your garden). You can also inter-plant your crops with marigolds which will act as a deterrent to RKN.
Destruction of Infected Roots
Exactly where a crop has develop into contaminated, it is critical to dig up roots and destroy them promptly right after your crop is harvested. This will get rid of a substantial proportion of the nematodes which would if not have more than to infect the up coming season’s crop.
Reducing Crop Pressure
Any crop which is pressured will much more easily succumb to infections, not only from pests and illnesses, but also from nematodes. Use mulch, h2o frequently and fertilise.
Finally:
Use of Kelpak, to Create Root Expansion
Kelpak is a purely natural seaweed extract accessible in many international locations all around the entire world. It generates new root expansion. This seaweed products can be utilized wherever an infestation has or is occurring in a crop. It does not management the nematode, but fairly, it induces new root progress to compensate for reduction of root mass brought on by RKN. In some places, the place resistance is happening to hardline nematacides, use of products and solutions like Kelpak, assistance a crop successfully triumph over nematode problems and cuts down yield losses.
Silica
Use of items that comprise silica, these as diatomaceous earth, also support to management nematode and RKN injury. Diatomaceous earth would require to be included ahead of planting, but there are liquid silica goods obtainable that can be watered into a crop where the identified hazard for nematode hurt is higher eg tomatoes in sandy soil. If employed on a common basis all through the crop everyday living, these types of silica merchandise will discourage nematode infestation and injury and permit you to harvest a excellent crop.
I hope all these ideas have been a support.
Very good luck!
Lucia Grimmer
