Survey of Sedge Weeds for Root-Knot Nematode in Arable Fields in a Southern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria

Abstract

Nematodes are plant-parasites that cause alterations in the soils and affects crop performance. This study survey selected arable field for sedges and examine the population of root-knot nematode in soil and roots of selected fields. A total of 42 weed species belonging to 34 genera within 17 families were associated with Fimbristylis littoralis (33.65%), Cyprus esculentus (36.61%) and Cyprus imbricatus (21.34%). The results showed that the proportion of nematodes in soil was positively correlated with soil pH (r2 =0.80); nitrogen (r2 =0.90), calcium (r2= 0.91), organic carbon (r2 =0.96), organic matter (r2=0.95), magnesium and sandy textural class (r= 0.92), however, ti decreased with increasing clay, silt, sodium, potassium and available phosphorus in the soil. The study concluded, Cyprus esculents is the major host of root-knot nematodes and its survive and proliferate well in sandy soils and positively correlated with most soil chemical properties.