The effect of two compost soil amendments, based on municipal green and penicillin production wastes, on plant parasitic nematodes

Abstract Suppressive effect of two composts, applied at five doses (0 %, 1 %, 2.5 %, 5 % and 10 % w/w), was studied on spring barley to control different genera of plant parasitic nematodes in potting mixtures. Amendment of soil with these materials resulted in a significant decreasing effect of plant parasitic nematode populations. The best reduction of number of plant parasitic nematodes was found for the nematode genera Bitylenchus, Helicotylenchus, Heterodera, Paratylenchus and Rotylenchulus by a municipal green compost (C1) and nematode genera Bitylenchus, Geocenamus, Helicotylenchus, and Rotylenchulus by a compost derived from penicillin production residues (C2). The compost C1 with a lower C:N ratio was more effective in the nematode control than the compost C2. The analysis of variance showed a significant interaction among all factors involved in the experiment: type of compost, different doses and nematode genera. Relationship between applied doses and number of nematodes showed a significantly high negative correlation

Nematicidal effect of chestnut tannin solutions on the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis (Woll.) Barhens

Recently, tannins have been reported for their nematicidal activity against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica both in vitro and in pot experiments in addition to a biocidal effect on a wide range of fungi, bacteria and yeasts. However, no information is available on the effect of these polyphenols on plant parasitic cyst nematodes. Therefore, an in vitro and a pot experiments on potato were undertaken to investigate the nematicidal activity of tannin aqueous solutions at different concentrations on the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis. In the in vitro experiment different tannin concentrations in a geometric scale (from 0.32 to 20.48 g/l) were tested for their effect on the egg hatch of the nematode. All tested tannin concentrations were effective to reduce egg viability from 56 to 87%, in comparison to the untreated control. In the pot experiment, tannins, as aqueous solutions at rates of 100, 250 and 450 g/m2, were applied to soil at two different application times (at sowing and at sowing and two weeks later). All tested doses were effective to reduce the number of cyst/100 g soil, eggs and juveniles/g soil and reproduction rate in comparison to untreated control. The number of eggs and juveniles/cyst was not influenced by the different applied rates of tannins

The impact of fresh sawdust and dry pig manure produced on sawdust bedding application on the nutrients mobility in soil and sugar beet yield

The objective of the pot trial carried out at the area of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra was to determine the impact of dry pig manure produced on the sawdust bedding and sawdust litter on the level of nutrients’ mobility in the soil and sugar beet yield. The achieved results showed that one month after the sawdust and manure application to the soil, the contents of mobile nutrients (Nan, P, K, Ca, Mg) in soil were lower than in the control unfertilized treatment. The sawdust litter immobilized nutrients more considerably than manure. Four months after the manure application into soil, its immobilization effect was not evident. On the contrary, the manure increased the mobile nutrients content in soil. In the second year of experiment the immobilization effect of sawdust litter was proved even four months after its application into soil. The application of manure increased considerably the beet root yield. The maximum root yield was determined in the treatment where the highest dose of manure was applied. The minimum root yield was detected in the treatment where the highest dose of sawdust litter was applied

The effect of soil type and ecosystems on the soil nematode and microbial communities

Integrated studies are required to better understand the relationships between groups of soil microfauna under the influence of various biotic and abiotic factors that drive and characterise ecosystems. We analysed soil nematode communities and microbial diversity and the properties of three soil types to assess the effect of these environmental variables on biological diversity in natural (forest), semi-natural (meadow), and managed (agriculture) habitats of the Slovak Republic. The type of ecosystem and soil and the interaction of both factors had considerable effects on most monitored abiotic and biotic soil properties. The forest with a Chernozem soil had the most nematode species, highest nematode diversity, highest abundance of nematode within functional guilds, best values of ecological and functional indices, highest microbial biomass, highest microbial richness and diversity, and the highest values of various soil properties, followed by meadows with a Cambisol soil. The agricultural ecosystem with a Stagnosol soil had the lowest biological diversity and values of the soil properties. Several nematode species were new for Slovak nematode fauna. Sampling date and the interaction of all three factors (ecosystem × soil × date) had minor or no effect on most of the parameters, except soil moisture content, microbial richness, nematode channel ratio, nematode maturity index, and plant parasitic index. Both the biological indicators and basic soil properties indicated that the natural forest with a Chernozem soil was the best habitat from an ecological point of view. This ecosystem is thus the most appropriate for ecological studies

Plants as natural sources of nematicides

Plant parasitic nematodes can cause serious damages to numerous economically important agricultural crops worldwide. Control of these pests is based on pesticides and on the use of resistant cultivars. Although chemicals are effective in the plant parasitic nematode control, the recent European legislation has deeply revised and restricted their use on agricultural crops focusing the attention on environmental safety and human and animal health. Moreover, resistant cultivars are available only for a limited number of crops and plant parasitic nematode species. During the last decade research on low environmental impact alternatives to nematicides has received a strong impulse and a wide range of options including agronomic strategies, physical methods, bio-pesticides, and biocidal plants have been considered. Focusing on plants, derived natural products known as botanic pesticides can represent useful tools to minimize soil nematode population density under the tolerance limits of the different crops to specific phytoparasitic nematodes. These botanic pesticides are generally non-persistent in field conditions as they are readily transformed by light, oxygen and microorganisms into non-toxic products without residues in the environment. Many botanic pesticides derived from wild and cultivated plants have been shown to possess nematicidal properties against several plant-parasitic nematodes. The aim of this review is to report the effects of botanic pesticides derived from various wild, cultivated and medicinal plants, including essential oils, root and tissues extracts, on plant parasitic nematodes in the view of sustainable agriculture

Impact of foliar application of the biostimulator Mg-Titanit on the formation of winter oilseed rape phytomass and its titanium content

The objective of the following three-year small-plot experiments was to determine the impact of a dose and application date of the biostimulator Mg-Tytanit (MgTi) on the formation of winter oilseed rape phytomass and its titanium cont ent. In the trial the biostimulant Mg-Tytanit containing 8.5 g of titanium in 1 liter was used. The experiment consisted of 5 treatments: 0 – control treatment without MgTi; 2xTi0.2 – two applications of MgTi in the dose of 0.2 dm3 ha-1; 3xTi0.2 – three applications of MgTi in the dose of 0.2 dm3 ha-1; 2xTi0.4 – two applications of MgTi in the dose of 0.4 dm3 ha-1; 3xTi0.4 – three applications of MgTi in the dose of 0.4 dm3 ha-1. The BS was applied in spring during two or three different growth stages: BBCH 50, BBCH 59, BBCH 66. The first plant sampling was carried out shortly before the first application of BS (BBCH 50). The second, third and fourth sampling were taken 2 – 3 weeks after the application of Mg-Tytanit (BBCH 59, BBCH 66, BBCH 71). The results showed that the biostimulator MgTi, regardless of its dose and application date, resulted in a higher weight of the aerial and underground phytomass. All the MgTi applications had impact on the winter oilseed rape yield increase. The seed yield was increased by 0.3 to 0.63 t ha-1. Higher yields were achieved in the treatments where MgTi was applied three times in comparison with the treatments, where it was used twice. The oil content in rape seeds was increased significantly only if MgTi was used in the total doses 0.8 and 1.2 dm3 ha-1 in the single application dose 0.4 dm3 ha-1. The oil content value was increased by 0.94 % and by 0.82 %. The oil production per hectare was increased after each use of MgTi, i.e. regardeless of the dose and date of its application. The highest Ti content in the aerial phytomass was 68.5 mg kg-1 and in the underground phytomass it was 247.1 mg kg-1

Impact of foliar application of the biostimulator Mg-Titanit on the formation of winter oilseed rape phytomass and its titanium content

The objective of the following three-year small-plot experiments was to determine the impact of a dose and application date of the biostimulator Mg-Tytanit (MgTi) on the formation of winter oilseed rape phytomass and its titanium cont ent. In the trial the biostimulant Mg-Tytanit containing 8.5 g of titanium in 1 liter was used. The experiment consisted of 5 treatments: 0 – control treatment without MgTi; 2xTi0.2 – two applications of MgTi in the dose of 0.2 dm3 ha-1; 3xTi0.2 – three applications of MgTi in the dose of 0.2 dm3 ha-1; 2xTi0.4 – two applications of MgTi in the dose of 0.4 dm3 ha-1; 3xTi0.4 – three applications of MgTi in the dose of 0.4 dm3 ha-1. The BS was applied in spring during two or three different growth stages: BBCH 50, BBCH 59, BBCH 66. The first plant sampling was carried out shortly before the first application of BS (BBCH 50). The second, third and fourth sampling were taken 2 – 3 weeks after the application of Mg-Tytanit (BBCH 59, BBCH 66, BBCH 71). The results showed that the biostimulator MgTi, regardless of its dose and application date, resulted in a higher weight of the aerial and underground phytomass. All the MgTi applications had impact on the winter oilseed rape yield increase. The seed yield was increased by 0.3 to 0.63 t ha-1. Higher yields were achieved in the treatments where MgTi was applied three times in comparison with the treatments, where it was used twice. The oil content in rape seeds was increased significantly only if MgTi was used in the total doses 0.8 and 1.2 dm3 ha-1 in the single application dose 0.4 dm3 ha-1. The oil content value was increased by 0.94 % and by 0.82 %. The oil production per hectare was increased after each use of MgTi, i.e. regardeless of the dose and date of its application. The highest Ti content in the aerial phytomass was 68.5 mg kg-1 and in the underground phytomass it was 247.1 mg kg-1

Suppressiveness of soil amendments with pelleted plant materials on the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita

Soil treatments with formulated plant biomasses or waste materials can be an effective alternative to green manure crops for a sustainable management of root-knot nematode infestations. The suppressive performance of soil amendments with three commercial formulations of defatted seed meal from Brassica carinata, dry biomass of Medicago sativa and pressed pulp from Beta vulgaris was comparatively evaluated on the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita both on potted and field tomato (cv. Regina) trials. Products were applied at rates of 10, 20, 30 or 40 g/kg and 20 and 40 T/ ha soil in pots and field, respectively. Soil non treated or treated with the nematicide Oxamyl were used as controls in both experiments. Amendments in potted soil significantly reduced M. incognita infestation on tomato roots compared to both the untreated control and treatment with Oxamyl, also increasing tomato plant growth up to the 30 g/kg soil rate. At the end of the field tomato crop, soil population density of M. incognita resulted significantly reduced by all the tested treatments, whereas tomato yield was significantly higher than the untreated control only at the lowest amendment rate. Soil amendments with the materials tested in this study demonstrated to be a potential additional tool for a satisfactory and safe management of root-knot nematodes

Influence of invasion by Sosnowsky's hogweed on nematode communities and microbial activity in forest and grassland ecosystems

This study determined the effect of the invasive plant Heracleum sosnowskyi on selected soil microbial properties and the taxonomic and trophic composition of soil nematode communities in the Serpukhov district of Moscow region, Russia. We compared invaded by H. sosnowskyi (at least twenty years) and uninvaded plots in two ecosystems, forest and grassland. Soil was sampled and analysed in the autumn and spring. The forest and grassland ecosystems had substantially different soil microbial and nematode communities, but both were considerably altered by invasion. The soil microbial properties differed among the investigated plots and season, but the differences were observed to be non-significant between the invaded and the uninvaded plots. By contrast, invasion significantly negatively affected total nematode abundance and altered nematode numbers and the generic composition of two trophic groups, herbivores and omnivores, in both seasons, but significantly only in the spring. The numbers of bacterivorous, fungivorous, and predaceous nematodes were not affected by H. sosnowskyi invasion. The channel index indicated that bacteria strongly contributed to decomposition in all plots (grassland and forest), regardless of invasion status. Enrichment and structure indices suggested that resource availability and ecosystem disturbance were higher in the invaded than the uninvaded plots, but significantly only in the spring. Our results thus indicated that invasion by H. sosnowskyi influenced several nematode communities parameters while others remained unaffected, regardless of habitat were invasion take place. © 2019 The Author