Biomanagement of root knot nematode through non edible oil seed cakes infesting cicer arietinum L.

ABSTRACT

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different oil cakes against the root knot nematode. Root knot nematodes are the major agricultural pest of wide range of crops worldwide. Chickpea, Cicer arietinum L., family Fabaceae, is a high yielding proteinaceous pulse crop with India being the leading producer. Root knot nematodes are one of the major biological constraint that reduces per capita yield of this pulse crops. In the present investigation, studies were made to determine the efficacy of different oil cakes viz. Azadirachta indica (Neem), Brassica campestris (Mustard) and Gossypium hirsutum (Cotton). Two doses (50 and 100 g) of each neem, mustard and cotton oil cakes were applied to reduce nematode infestation in chickpea. Results revealed that root gall development due to Meloidogyne incognita were significantly reduced in all the treatments and enhance all the plant growth characters of C.arietinum. Higher dose of neem oil cake was found to be most effective as compared to other treatments. Hence, it may be concluded that oil cakes are better substitute against nematicide for the effective control of root-knot nematode and reduce environmental hazards for ecologically safe environment.