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. © 2009 Parasitological Institute of SAS, Košice.