Effect of Cropping Sequences on the Population Dynamics of Plant Parasitic Nematodes under Dryland Systems
Abstract
The population dynamics of the six plant parasitic nematodes viz., Rotylenchulus reniformis, Helicotylenchus dihystera, Hoplolaimus seinhorsti, Pratylenchus delattrei, Meloidogyne incognita and Xiphinema basiri was studied in different cropping sequences under dryland system. Populations of R. reniformis, H. dihystera, H. seinhorsti and P. delattrei increased and maintained during cropping period but sharply reduced during fallow period in all the cropping sequences. The least population of M. incognita was observed during cropping period but not recovered during fallow period in tomato –fallow and cotton –fallow cropping sequences. A negative relationship existed between temperature and nematode populations and a positive between rainfall and nematode populations. Relative humidity had no profound influence on nematode populations.
Keywords
Plant parasitic nematodes, dryland systems, population fluctuations, temperature, rainfall and relative humidity
