Effect of different management practices on nematode populations and yield of ginger

Some pre-sowing and sowing time/post-sowing treatments were evaluated against the nematode infestation in ginger under in vivo. The experiment was laid out in the field infested with nematodes viz Pratylenchus coffeae, Meloidogyne incognita, Helicotylenchus dihystera, Tylenchorhynchus mashhoodi and Mesocriconema xenoplax. Pre-plant treatments used were T₁ (Hot water treatment of seed rhizomes at 45°C for 3 h), T₂ (Summer ploughing twice at an interval of 15 days), T₃(Summer solarisation of field soil with polythene tarp for 15 days), T₄(T₁+ T₂), T₅(T₁+ T₃) and T₆(Control); sowing/post-sowing treatments were T₁(Application of neem cake @ 2.5 tons/ha at sowing), T₂ (Application of carbofuran @ 0.3 g ai/m² at sowing), T₃ [Neem cake at sowing + carbofuran at 45 days after sowing (DAS)], T₄(Carbofuran at sowing + neem cake at 45 DAS), T₅(Neem cake at 45 DAS), T₆(Carbofuran at 45 DAS) and T₇ (Control). All the treatments considerably reduced the nematode infestation and enhanced the crop yield in comparison to control; among pre-sowing treatments combination of summer soil solarization and hot water treatment of ginger rhizomes was found the best while among sowing/post-sowing treatments application of neem cake at the time of sowing followed by the application of carbofuran after 45 days of sowing showed most promising results.