Soil Sustainability and Its Effect on Free-Living Nematodes and Okra Plant Health
الباحث الأول:
Mohammed A. Shedhan
الباحثين الآخرين:
Fadal A. Alfadal
المجلة:
5th International Conference of Modern Technologies in Agricultural Sciences
تاريخ النشر:
20 فبراير، 0004
مختصر البحث:
Abstract. The study aimed to demonstrate the importance of soil tillage practices on soil structure and
the density and distribution of free-living nematodes and their impact on the health and quality of soil
planted with okra plants. This in orde…
Abstract. The study aimed to demonstrate the importance of soil tillage practices on soil structure and
the density and distribution of free-living nematodes and their impact on the health and quality of soil
planted with okra plants. This in order to develop a possible success of a sustainable agricultural
system to prevent plant diseases and support plant health. The experiment was conducted in the field
for the 2021 growing season after plowing and leveling the soil and divided into furrows, irrigated,
and left for 6 months to stabilize and sustain the soil. Then the furrows for the treatments (organic
fertilizer, chemical fertilizer, and combination of both) were plowed to a depth of 30 cm while the
control furrows were left unplowed. Okra seeds were planted at 30 cm spacing, three furrows
(replicates) for each treatment. During and at the end of the season, growth, yield, and plant health
indicators based on nematodes diversity and population were measured. It was found that no-tillage
led to significantly higher values of plant height, total fruit weight, leaf content of chlorophyll and
nitrogen, and exhibiting higher numbers of free living nematodes, which showed significant
differences in their populations over time period between the two seasons. A significant increase in all
indicators under study were recorded in organic fertilizer treatments compared to the control
treatment. Most plant growth indicators showed strong correlation with the number of free-living
nematodes, especially at the end of the season.
Keywords. Abelmoschus esculentus, Organic agriculrure, Soil biofauna, No-tillage practices
