The nematicidal properties of 4 organic materials high in tannins and phenols were studied in greenhouse experiments with a silt loam soil infested with Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood. The materials were spent coffee grinds (Coffea arabica L), holly leaves (Hex opaca Ait.), pecan shells [Carya illinoensis (Wang.) K. Koch] and tannic acid. The dry ground materials were added to soil at rates of 0-4% (w/w) and after 3 weeks the treated soil was planted with summer crookneck squash (Cucurbita pepo L) to assess degree of root galling caused by the nematode. Pecan shell amendments had no effect on M. arenaria. The most effective amendments for control of the nematode were those with tannic acid; however, these amendments caused severe phytotoxicity. Treatments with holly leaves at rates of 1.5% or higher reduced root galling and did not cause significant phytotoxicity. Coffee grind treatments were effective against the nematode at the 4% rate but caused phytotoxicity. Holly amendmen
