Integrated management of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) infecting tomato and okra

Studies were conducted on integrated control of M. javanica under field conditions in tomato and okra. Two methods of ploughing i.e. normal (10 cm deep) and deep ploughing (20 cm) during the month of June (atmospheric temp. ranging between 42–47°C) were integrated with other effective practices such as nursery bed treatment with aldicarb (tomato)/seed treatment with carbosulfone (okra) and aldicarb application @ 1 kg. a.i./ha in the main field at transplanting/sowing or no aldicarb treatment were evaluated. In tomato, reduction in root-knot nematode population ranged between 78.2 to 92.3 owing to different methods of ploughing. Treatment combination of deep ploughing + aldicarb treated nursery + aldicarb application @ 1 kg. a.i./ha at transplanting of tomato gave maximum yield (7.8 kg/plot) with minimum root-knot index (1.3) and final soil population (175 J₂/250 g soil) in comparison to 3.8 kg fruit yield per plot in check (normal ploughing + untreated seedlings + no aldicarb application). In okra, normal and deep ploughing led to 79.2 to 76.3 per cent reduction in M. javanica population, respectively. Further, aldicarb @ 1 kg. a.i./ha applied in plots irrespective of type of ploughing yielded significantly higher than untreated plots. Treated seeds had lower root-knot index in comparison to untreated seeds.