Abstract

Study was conducted in Diredawa Haramaya University Research Station in naturally root-knot nematode infested soil to determine the effect of poultry manure and rapeseed cake against root-knot nematode infestation and yield of tomato var. Mraglobe. Five levels of poultry manure (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 ton/ha) and three levels of rapeseed cake (0, 100 and 200 kg/ha) were applied in experimental plot three weeks before transplanting the seedlings in band placement manner to the depth of 20 cm. The experiment laid in RCBD factorial arrangement. The result revealed that there were significant interaction effect of poultry manure above 5-20 ton/ha with rapeseed cake at 200 kg/ha at P<0.05 on number of egg/egg mass, root galling, population of J2 and yield and growth of the crop. Infestation of root-knot nematode was significantly reduced as both poultry manure and rapeseed cake increased. Fruit yield increased when poultry manure raised 0 to 15 ton/ha with rapeseed cake 200 kg/ha. Applications of poultry manure at 5 ton/ha to 15 ton/ha in combination with rapeseed cake at 200 kg/ha gave highest yield and suppressed root knot nematode.

Key words: Meloidogyne incognita, poultry manure, rapeseed cake, root-knot nematode, tomato.