Effect of marigold, Tagetes erecta intercropped with banana against root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae

An experiment was conducted at farmer's field on banana cv. Nendran (AAB) infested with root-lesion nematode. Maximum reduction in root-lesion index and nematode population was noticed, where Tagetes erecta was grown as an intercrop and on par with chemical treatment, whereas, maximum population was recorded in untreated control plants. The yield of banana increased significantly to 12.5 and 12 kg/plant in plants treated with chemical pesticides and intercropped with Tagetes respectively compared to a minimum bunch weight of 7 kg per plant in untreated control plants. Though the plants treated with chemical pesticides were found to be on par with marigold grown as an intercrop, but the use of marigold as an intercrop in banana field warrants more economical and ecofreindly compared to chemical nematicides.