Effects of Soil Solarization on Nematodes Parasitic toChickpea and Pigeonpea

Solarization by covering the soil with transparent polyethylene sheets during the summermonths (April, May, June) in 1984 and 1985 significantly (P = 0.01) reduced the population densitiesof nematodes (Heterodera cajani, Rotylenchulus reniformis, Helicotylenchus retusus, Pratylenchus sp., andTylenchorhynchus sp.) parasitic to chickpea and pigeonpea. Population density reductions of 93% ofHeterodera cajani eggs and juveniles, 99% ofHelicotylenchus retusus, 98% ofPratylenchus sp., and 100%ofR. reniformis were achieved by solarization in 1984. Irrigation before covering soil with polyethyleneimproved (P = 0.01) the effects of solarization in reducing the population densities of Heteroderacajani. Similar trends in population density reductions were observed in 1985, but the solarizationeffects were not the same. Nematode population reductions in the 1984-85 season were evidentuntil near crop harvest, but in the 1985-86 season the effects on nematode populations were notas great and did not last until harvest. Factors such as rains during the solarization, duration ofsolarization, and sunshine hours may have influenced the efficacy of solarization. Solarization fortwo seasons reduced the population densities each year about the same as single season solarization,and residual effects of solarization on nematode populations did not last for more than a crop season

S B Sharma, Y L Nene, 'Effects of Soil Solarization on Nematodes Parasitic toChickpea and Pigeonpea', Journal of Nematology, vol. 22(4S), pp.658-664, Society of Nematologists, 2011