If you don't have predatory nematodes or fungi to innoculate into
the soil where out worst problem are (mainly in very light sandy soils) we
have found large amounts of molasses up to 40 L/Ha per crop has stopped the
problem. There was a large problem in the Water and Rock Melon area I now
work in just before I stared there 4 years ago. They found this level of
molasses has controlled the root knot nematodes and I have not seen a problem
since I have started and they not had to use a nasty chemical for this problem
in the last 4 years that I know of. The whole area has sung over to use this
in every crop they plant and this is on of the recognisted areas for melon
growing in Australia.
I have seen this also work in tomatoes. I know they live in other
soil but it is the very light sandy soils that we see the most plant damage
to the point of nearly totally destroying the crop ie no yield at all.
I'm not sure of the mechanism of how it works but we believe that
the bacterial bloom we get from the molasses allows the bacterial to coat
the roots and so leave no room for the nematodes to be able to infest the
root. Maybe Doc E. would like to comment on this.
Shane Gishford
Yahoo! Personals
- New people, new possibilities! Try Yahoo! Personals, FREE for a limited
period!
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
compost_tea-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.