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Nematode management in
Pomegranate
Nematodes constitute one of the major limiting factors
in fruit crop production.
They cause extensive root damage resulting in
serious economic consequences
viz.,
fertilizers are not effectively utilized, the period
from planting to harvesting is extended, drastic
reduction in fruit or bunch weights, the quality of
fruits is impoverished and fields have to be replanted
every 2 to 3 years because of drastic reduction in plant
numbers.
Furthermore, roots damaged by nematodes are easy prey to
fungi which invade the roots and accelerate root decay.
The root-knot nematode
Meloidogyne
incognita is the major nematode pests that
infect pomegranate, causing extensive root galling.
Symptoms:
Common above ground symptoms of root knot nematode
infection in pomegranate includes yellowing, stunting,
wilted leaves, leaf dropping, drying of branches and
decline in productivity. Underground symptoms included
root galls and partially rotted roots. In association
with the wilt causing bacteria, there is extensive
rotting of roots and death of plants within months.
Root knot infected root of pomegranate |
Management of nematodes in pomegranate
Sanitation:
·
Use of nematode free saplings for planting
·
Removal and destruction of nematode infected saplings or
trees
·
Maintaining the orchard free from weeds and alternate
hosts
Nematode management in nurseries
Treatment of soil mixture used for raising pomegranate
rootstocks
•
A ton of soil mixture has to be mixed with 50 -100kg of
neem cake or pongamia cake enriched with the
bio-pesticides such as Paecilomyces lilacinus,
Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma harzianum.
•
5
kg of Carbofuran / phorate can also be added to one ton
of soil mixture.
(Procedure of
enrichment of neem cake / pongamia cake with
bio-pesticides:
Mix 3 - 4 kg of each of Paecilomyces lilacinus/
Pochonia chlamydosporia, Pseudomonas fluorescens
and Trichoderma harzianum / T. viride
in one ton of neem cake / pongamia cake and leave it in
shade for 20 days at 25 – 30% moisture for
multiplication of beneficial microbes).
Nematode management in orchards
•
Apply 3 – 4 kg of bio-pesticide enriched
vermicompost/ Farm Yard Manure/ compost per plant once
at an interval of 3-4 months.
-
•
Mix 20 kg of bio-pesticide enriched neem cake /
pongamia cake in 200 lit water, leave it for two
days. This can be used for drenching at 2 – 3 lit/
plant or filter it thoroughly and use it for sending
along the drip, once in an interval of 15 – 20 days.
-
•
The filtered suspension can be used for spraying the
crop or can also be used as spray fluid for spraying
micro nutrient mixtures.
-
(Procedure of
enrichment of neem cake / pongamia cake with
bio-pesticides vermicompost/ FYM / compost:
Mix 50 - 100 kg of bio-pesticide in ton of vermicompost/
FYM / compost, leave it under shade for 20 days.
Maintain an optimum moisture of 24 – 26%.
Mix it now and then.
Cover it with leaf mulch or soil or polythene
sheet. After 20 days FYM gets enriched with billions of
propagules of bio-agents and it is ready for use).
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