Indexing biodiversity and antagonistic potential in agricultural soil of Madagascar
1994
Sikora, R.A. | Schuster, R.P. | Kiewnick, S. (Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms Univ. Bonn (Germany). Inst. fuer Pflanzenkrankheiten)
A number of attempts have been made to measure the suppressiveness of soils toward fungal pathogens. To date, however, no attempt has been made to develop an indexing system for determination of the suppressiveness in soils as it relates to biological control of specific species of plant parasitic nematodes. The use of a simplified Biodiversity Index (BDI) based on nematode trophic groups and a number of antagonists important in regulating nematodes was used to evaluate soils. An attempt was made to relate this index to the density of plant parasitic nematodes within the soil population in Madagascar. This BDI was further expanded to a more focused indexing system defined as the Antagonistic Potential Index (API) to estimate more accurately soil suppressiveness to cyst nematodes in German soils. A baiting technique using Nylon envelopes retained in plastic frames containing pre-inoculated cysts was used to measure fungal egg pathogen potential in field soils. The advantages and limitations of the use of Biodiversity Indices and the proposed API to classify soils for their ability to reduced damage by plant parasitic nematodes and in increasing root health and improving integrated plant protection programs is discussed.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by University of Liège