Abstract

Study on effect of resource conservation practices and conventional practices on population dynamics of Meloidogyne graminicola under rice-wheat cropping system revealed that the fields with the intervention of resource conservation practices showed high population densities, root knot index and narrow nematode to root biomass ratio of M. graminicola as compared to conventional ones. It was also found that those tillage practices where residues were left on the field (with residues) has high population, root knot index and narrow nematode to root biomass ratio as compared to practices where crop were harvested from ground level without leaving residues in the field. Contrarily, zero till rice-zero till wheat + Sesbania sp. showed low population densities, root knot index and wide nematode to root biomass ratio and thus may serve as a better option for the management of M. graminicola.

Key words: Meloidogyne graminicola, resource conserving technologies, nematode-to-root biomass ratio, root knot index.