Management of nematode in mulberry

August 06, 2014 09:59 pm | Updated 09:59 pm IST

Continuous cultivation of mulberry in the same field may favour the survival and multiplication of nematodes causing an infestation called nematodiasis.

The infestation occurs throughout the year and is more prevalent in sandy soils under irrigated conditions causing crop loss up to 15 per cent.

Severely affected mulberry plants are stunted in growth with marginal chlorosis and necrosis of leaves.

Symptoms

Underground symptoms are the formation of knots/galls on the roots. Nematode infection hampers the uptake and translocation of water and minerals from the soil.

The infestation spreads primarily through contaminated soil, farm implements and run-off irrigation. Infected saplings, cultivation of other susceptible crops along with mulberry and growth of some susceptible weeds in and around the mulberry gardens act as secondary sources of infection

The nematodeinfestation can be reduced by deep digging /ploughing to a depth of 30-40 cm during summer.

Always use nematode-free saplings for new plantation. Disinfect the farm implements either with 5 per cent formalin solution or dip in boiling water for 5-10 minutes before use.

Plant marigold as intercrop in between mulberry rows. Apply neem oil cake at the rate of 2 mt/ha/yr in four split doses.

Apply furadan (Carbofuran 3 G) at 40 kg/ha/yr in four split doses within 40-45 days. Fumigate the soil with Durofume (Ethylene dibromide + methyl bromide, 1:1) at 9 ml/m.

Bionema

Mix one kg of bionema with 24 kg neem oil cake and 200 kg FYM (sufficient for 1,000 plants) and store the mixture under the shade for about one week by adding 30-32 litres of water.

Apply the mixture at 200 g/plant around the exposed roots (three times/year at an interval of four months) Bionema has no residual toxicity on silkworms.

(Dr. N. B. Chowdary, Scientist, Research Extension Central Silk Board, Giddalur -523 357, Prakasam District, A.P. email: balaji_narishetty@yahoo.com, Mobile: 09449994014 & Dr. V. Sivaprasad, Director, Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Mysore- 570 008, Karnataka).

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.