Evaluation of Fresh Poultry Manure as Organic Amendment for the Management of Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco Nursery

Root knot nematodes pose serious threat to FCV tobacco production in Karnataka light soil region causing severe loss in yield and quality. Nematode management by use of carbofuran and dazomet 98% is quite possible, but indiscriminate use of such chemical nematicides leads to environmental pollution due to residues in water and soil. Hence, poultry manure, which is a locally available organic source, was evaluated against root-knot nematodes in FCV tobacco nursery for three years. Results revealed that, there was no adverse effect of poultry manure on tobacco seed germination. At 60 DAS, Poultry manure @ 200 g/m² was on par with poultry manure @ 250 g/m² in recording reduced Root-Knot Index (RKI) of 1.36 and 1.34 respectively and also was on par with neem cake + soil solarization (1.40) and dazomet @ 30 g/m² (1.22). Similarly application of Poultry manure @ 200 g/m² in FCV tobacco nursery beds resulted in 40% reduction in number of root galls/g root, 34% reduction in number of root knot nematode adult females/g root, 43% reduction in number of root knot nematode egg masses/g root and 36.9% reduction in root knot nematode soil population/100g soil compared to untreated check. Poultry manure @ 200 g/m² was on par with poultry manure @ 250 g/m² in recording significantly increased healthy and root-knot free transplantable seedlings to the tune of 48.0 and 59.0 per cent respectively compared to untreated check.