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- Soil texture may be key to nematode control
LSU AgCenter nematologist Charlie Overstreet makes a presentation on products available to control nematodes at the Northeast Research Station field day in St. Joseph on June 16. Photo by Johnny Morgan
Charlie Overstreet is using site-specific agriculture for his studies of nematodes in soybeans.
The LSU AgCenter researcher is studying the effects of soil texture on nematode injury in soybeans and how site-specific management can economically control Southern root knot nematodes and reniform nematodes.
By measuring electrical conductivity in the soil with a Veris EC mapping system, Overstreet is looking at soil textures at depths of 1 foot and 3 feet, then comparing harvest results with three nematode treatments.
“I’m looking at variable textures and different nematicides to see what kinds of response we get,” Overstreet said. “We’re using an untreated area and comparing results with seed treated with Avicta Complete Bean, a soil fumigant with Telone II and a combination of both the seed treatment and soil fumigant.”
The test areas include Commerce silt loam and Bruin silt loam soils.
“The information can lead to developing different management strategies based on soil texture,” he said. “We’ve had good results in cotton. We don’t know yet for soybeans.”
Overstreet also is looking at how variety selection can reduce nematode damage on grain sorghum. “Almost everything is susceptible to Southern root knot nematodes,” he said.
“We know sorghum is susceptible to root knot nematode, and we’re looking at variability among varieties,” he said. “We’ve chosen three varieties – one very susceptible, one very resistant and one somewhere in between – to see how variability will affect populations of nematodes for the next crop.”
The study will measure nematode populations and harvest yield. And because it’s the first year, Overstreet doesn’t know if the results will show if different varieties provide economic advantages. Rick Bogren