MANAGEMENT OF MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA AND HELICOTYLENCHUS MULTICINCTUS IN BANANA WITH ORGANIC AMENDMENTS

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for three years to assess the effect of organic amendments on the management of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and the spiral nematode Helicotylenchus multicinctus on banana. There was a significant reduction in the nematode population in plants treated with pressmud (15 t/ha) or neern cake (1.5 t/ha). The organic amendments enhanced plant height, pseudostem girth, number of leaves per plant and leaf area and also increased the fruit yield. The organic amendments were comparable with carbofuran treatment.