UTILIZATION OF PLANT-ORIGIN WASTE MATERIALS FOR THE CONTROL OF PLANT-PARASITIC NEMATODES

The nematocidal properties of several waste materials of plant origin were studied in soil infested with plant-parasitic nematodes. Among the materials pressmud, vegetable- and fruit-processing waste and tobacco wastes were the most effective in reducing the incidence of root-knot and development of plant-parasitic nematodes on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). However, amendments to soil with spent tea, wheat straw, paddy husk, paddy straw, sugarcane trash, domestic garbage, dead vegetation and pigeonpea stubble were also found to be beneficial in nematode control. As a consequence of nematode control plant growth improved, with a few exceptions where higher levels (5% (w/w)) of waste materials were phytotoxic.