Effect of deep summer ploughings on the cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera avenae and yield of wheat in Rajasthan, India

Studies on the effect of 1–5 deep summer ploughings given at 7–10 day intervals in May-June on the cereal cyst nematode population and yield of wheat grown during winter, were carried out for two years in infested fields having more than 5 larvae/g soil. The results show that the population reduction of the nematode and increased yield of wheat crop were directly proportional to the number of ploughings. A population reduction of 9.3–42.4 per cent and yield increase of 4.4–97.5per cent were recorded. The data did not indicate any difference in the effect of fallowing or growing pearl millet or maize during kharif on CCN (H. avenae) population and wheat yield in infested fields.