Effect of urdbean based cropping sequences on root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) population

Studies on the effect of cropping sequences on root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) under micro-plot conditions showed that the cultivation of urdbean during kharif (rainy season) led to increase in nematode population by 56% over initial population. When subsequent crop wheat was taken as non-host crop in rabi (post rainy season), nematode population reduced by 42.3%. Urdbean followed by two non-host crops mustard and wheat had reduced 54% of nematode population. When urdbean was grown as intercrop with sorghum, nematode population decreased by 26% and subsequently wheat reduced the nematode population further by 64.9%. In the cropping sequence of maize followed by potato and urdbean, although the nematode population reduced with growing of maize in the beginning but population further increased when potato was grown during rabi. Testing of two cropping sequences urdbean+sorghum-wheat and urdbean-wheat+mustard in comparison to cropping sequence urdbean-chickpea in larger plots reduced the root-knot nematode population by 82.6 and 75.6% at the end of one year sequence as compared to 137.1% increase in population when urdbean was followed by chickpea.