Integrated management of root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in greenhouse tomato

An experiment for the management of Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood was conducted in two greenhouses during the year 2011 by using two soil sterilants i.e., metham sodium (30 ml/m²) and formalin (40% formaldehyde @ 225 ml/m²) alone and in combination with neem cake (200 g/m² enriched with either Paecilomyces lilacinus @ 50 g having 2x10⁶ cfu/g or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 50 g having 2x10⁹cfu/g), mixed 15 days prior to the transplanting. The root population after three weeks of transplantation, root knot index as well as soil population of the nematode at harvest was recorded to be significantly low as compared to the untreated check. The yield (q/ha) in various treatments ranged from 261.14 to 467.30 compared to 238.73 in treated check and 218.41 in the untreated check. Incremental cost benefit ratio (ICBR) was found to be favourable in the treatments of metham sodium. Maximum ICBR of 1:5.49 was calculated where metham sodium was applied alone.