Effects of organic and inorganic manures on the growth attributes of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) infected Ethiopian egg plant (Solanum aethiopicum).

Abstract

Pot experiment was conducted twice with a sterilized soil to evaluate the effects of organic manures (poultry, cow dung, domestic waste) and inorganic manure (NPK 15 : 15 : 15) on the growth attributes of root-knot nematode infected Ethopian egg plant Solanum aethiopicum in a screen house at Kabba College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University Kabba, Nigeria. Each of the organic manure was applied at the rate of 5t/ha and the NPK fertilizer was applied at the rate of 200kg/ha, while there was an uncreated control which acted as standard check. The experiment was designed in a completely randomized design comprising of five treatments as earlier mentioned and each treatment was replicated four times. The result of the experiment shows that all the manures were effective in suppressing nematode activities as manifested in enhanced growth observed in both organic and inorganic manure treatments compared with the control. The mean plant height, number of leaves, stem girth and number of branches in organic and inorganic manure root-knot nematode infected Ethopian egg plant was of the range 46.5 ± 3.18, 19 ± 3, 1.24 ± 6 and 6 ± 1 respectively at the twelve week of the experiment while the order of 16.83, 11.33, 0.80 and 2.67 respectively were observed in control plants. Egg plants in control treatment were heavily galled by Meloidogyne incognita resulting in poor growth while the organic and inorganic manure treated egg plant recorded better growth and were significantly different from the control. This result suggests the use of organic manure as soil amendment for the control of root-knot nematode in the endemic soil where susceptible crop are to be grown.