Effect of Mulching of Green Leaves for the Control of Root-Knot Nematode in Mulberry

Field experiments have shown that mulching of green leaves of pongamia and neem in the soil has significantly reduced the incidence of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) and increased the plant growth as well as leaf yield. In all the four trials conducted, mulching of pongamia leaves was found to be superior over neem leaves in all the parameters studied. In pongamia the leaf yield was increased by 28.44–41.71% followed by 16.13–38.67% in case of neem leaves mulched over control. The number of root-knots and egg masses were found to be minimum in pongamia and neem, but maximum was observed in control.