Effect of tillage, subsidiary crops and fertilisation on plant ‐parasitic nematodes in a range of agro‐environmental conditions within Europe

Abstract The overall goal in nematode management is to develop sustainable systems where nematode populations are kept under the economic damage threshold. Conservation tillage and subsidiary crops, applied as cover crops and living mulches, generally improve soil health by increasing soil organic matter content and stimulating soil microbial activity. However, more permanent crop and weed cover associated with subsidiary crops and noninversion tillage, respectively, may benefit plant‐parasitic nematodes with broad host spectra such as Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus. These genera are major constraints to many field crops throughout Europe and there is a need to identify effective and reliable management options that can be applied to avoid excessive infestations. The dynamics of the indigenous fauna of plant‐parasitic nematodes were studied in eight coordinated multi‐environment field experiments (MEEs) under four agro‐environmental conditions in Europe (Continental, Nemoral, Atlantic North and Mediterranean North). The MEEs consisted of a 2‐year sequence of wheat combined with a living mulch or subsequent cover crops and second main crops maize, potatoes or tomatoes depending on site. Additionally, the effects of inversion tillage using the plough were compared with various forms of conservation tillage (no‐tillage, shallow and deep noninversion tillage). Overall, Helicotylenchus, Paratylenchus, Pratylenchus and Tylenchorhynchus were the most frequent genera across...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - Category: Biology Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research