Management of Meloidogyne arenaria in protected crops of Swiss chard in Uruguay.

Resumo

Management of Meloidogyne arenaria in protected crops of Swiss chard in Uruguay. Nematropica 31:103-108. Crop production in plastic-protected agriculture in Uruguay is limited by root-knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp.). Nematode-induced losses are increasing due to monocropping and susceptibility to infection by root-knot nematodes of the crops used. In this study we evaluated non chemical strategies for nematode control that involved integrating appropriate cultural practices and plant characteristics. The study was conducted in a macrotunnel in Tacuarembo, northern of Uruguay, which was infested with high Meloidogyne arenaria. Swiss chard was grown for nine months after the following four treatments were established: 1) green manure with Crotalaria spectabilis (10 kg m -2 ); 2) biofumigation with cow manure (5 kg m -2 ); 3) dazomet (400 g m -2 ); and 4) plots previously cropped using organic methods. Non-chemical alternatives and organic techniques resulted in yields of Swiss char