Use of pesticides to determine relative importance of pest and disease factors limiting establishment of sod-seeded lucerne

The most likely reasons for seeding failures of sod-seeded lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.) were determined from eight field experiments, where the effects of a range of pesticides on the establishment of and damage to lucerne were compared. The experiments were conducted during 1979–80 at four sites near Ithaca, N.Y., USA. Pesticides evaluated were: methyl bromide (MeBr), carbofuran, acylalanine (1979, 1980); fonofos, diazinon, methiocarb, metaldehyde and combinations of carbofuran with methiocarb or metaldehyde (1980). Seeded areas were pretreated with glyphosate for vegetation control.
In 1979 seedling losses were decreased by carbofuran and methyl bromide whereas in 1980 seedling losses were decreased by methyl bromide at two sites and by methiocarb at all sites. Methiocarb was the only pesticide to reduce defoliation damage. The effect of combining methiocarb and metaldehyde each with carbofuran tended to be additive in terms of reducing seedling numbers and damage, and increasing yield. Treatment effects on lucerne yield were still apparent up to 12 months after seeding. Based on the consistent results of methiocarb, it was concluded that molluscs were probably the main factor limiting the establishment of sod-seeded lucerne but an arthropod component also appeared to be involved.     

Slugs as a primary limitation to establishment of sod-seeded lucerne

The variable degree of success obtained with sod-seeded lucerne in the north-eastern United States had been attributed to slug and insect activity, although the evidence was circumstantial. Our aims were to examine the effects of a molluscicide (methiocarb) and an insecticide (carbofuran), and their interaction with level of vegetative cover on response of sod-seeded lucerne plants (establishment and damage) and slug numbers and to determine what relationship (if any) there was between slug numbers and plant response. Results are based on six field experiments seeded in mid-August and early September 1980 at Ithaca, NY. Removal of vegetation and application of pesticides reduced seedling losses and damage and generally reduced slug numbers, but response to the pesticides varied according to presence or absence of vegetative cover and whether the experimental site carried a ‘high’ or ‘low’ slug activity. As reflected by increased seedling numbers and reduced damage, the main response to molluscicide (and insecticide) occurred in the presence of cover at ‘low’ activity sites. However, at the site with a ‘high’ slug activity, slug numbers were reduced by the molluscicide only where cover had been removed. It was concluded that insects and slugs, particularly the latter, can seriously limit establishment of sod-seeded lucerne in the north-eastern United States.     

A COMPARISON OF LUCERNE VARIETIES IN SOUTH-WEST SCOTLAND

Five early, three mid-season and two late varieties of lucerne were grown in drills in a replicated plot experiment at the Hannah Dairy Research Institute in south-west Scotland in the period 1956–59, inclusive. The lucerne was cut three times each year after the year of establishment (1956).
Average yields were 10,200 lb. of dry matter and 1970 lb. of crude protein per acre in the first harvest year, but declined rapidly to 6290 lb. of dry matter and 1190 lb. of crude protein per acre in the third year. On average, the early types of lucerne gave the highest yields of dry matter and crude protein. Over the three harvest years of the experiment, Flandria was the highest yielding variety and New Zealand B the lowest. The distribution of dry-matter yields averaged over all varieties was 44, 29 and 27% for cuts 1, 2 and 3, respectively.
The crude-protein content of the herbage from all the varieties was high, 63% of the values being greater than 19%. Grimm, a late variety, had the highest crude-protein content.
With all varieties tiller density declined rapidly from the first to the second harvest year, but increased again at the third harvest year.
11–34% of the total yield of dry matter in the second harvest year consisted of weed grasses, but this was reduced in the following year by spraying the plots with Dowpon, a selective herbicide.     

The effect of some invertebrate species on persistence of white clover in ryegrass swards

In two experiments in established swards of perennial ryegrass and white clover, plots were treated with pesticides to control slugs, leather-jackets, weevil larvae and lucerne flea as selectively as possible. Other plots were treated to control ail of these pests.
Chlorpyrifos application in early summer (to control weevil larvae) and methiocarb pellets (to control slugs) also gave partial control of leather-jackets. Other effects on non-target species were considered to be unimportant, as pest status could not be attributed to the species. A high level of control of lucerne flea by methiocarb pellets, noted previously, was confirmed.
At both sites combined treatment against insect pests and slugs produced large increases in clover content and yield over a 3-year period, in comparison with untreated plots, although clover tended to decline In alt plots. At one site, where the clover content of untreated plots reached 33% at one stage, specialist clover herbivores such as weevils and lucerne flea were more common. Treatments directed against weevils and slugs gave the highest clover yields, and leatherjacket control may also have contributed, particularly when the population reached 0.9 m ha⁻¹ in the final year. At the other site, where the clover content was low (ultimately 01.1–6%), leather-jacket populations reached 2.1 m ha⁻¹ and slug numbers were also relatively high. Control of these species contributed most to the relative increase in clover content and yield.     

Establishment of lucerne after maize in conservation tillage systems†

Extensive slug damage reported for lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.) establishment in grass sod and small grain fields when using conservation tillage prompted this 3-year study on establishing lucerne in maize ( Zea mays L.). Different crop residues were created by harvesting maize for grain and silage and including a silage+rye ( Secale cereale L.) winter cover crop treatment. Conventional tillage (ploughed in spring) following grain harvest was included as a control. In addition, a combination treatment of methiocarb bait broadcast on the surface and carbofuran granules applied in the furrow with the seed was compared with an untreated control. Finally, three planting dates, early and late April and late May, simulated the spring planting season. Planting lucerne in the different maize residues had a significant effect on lucerne yields, especially the silage+rye residue treatment, which caused the lowest lucerne yields. Highest yields of lucerne occurred when it was planted after silage, a treatment in which residue was minimal.
The earliest planting date gave the highest lucerne yields in the establishment year. Slugs did not reduce the establishment of lucerne in any maize residue, nor were lucerne yields affected by slug feeding. This was attributed to the low slug populations observed early in the growing season. Establishing and producing lucerne in maize residues was more successful in this study because of the lower slug populations than those usually encountered in grass sod or small grain residues.     

Comparison of lucerne silage and ventilated hay in maize silage-based rations for dairy cows for the production of milk destined for Grana cheese

Three experiments were carried out to study the effects of feeding lucerne silage (wilted to give different dry-matter (DM) contents) and ventilated hay to dairy cows on milk production, milk quality, milk-renneting properties, clostridial spore content and the quality of cheese prepared from the milk. The lucerne, cut at vegetative or early-bud stages of maturity, was harvested from alternate windrows and conserved as silage or artificially dried hay. The lucerne was wilted until it reached different DM contents of 550, 360 and 432 g kg^–1 in the three experiments, harvested, chopped with a self-loading forage wagon and ensiled in low and narrow clamps made up of transferable prefabricated walls. The organic acid content, pH, yeast and mould counts of the lucerne silage suggested that there was no aerobic deterioration. In each experiment, fifty Italian Friesian lactating cows were divided into two groups and fed two maize silage-based rations for 6 weeks, which only differed in the lucerne forage [silage (S) vs. ventilated hay (H)], in a cross-over experimental design. The lucerne in the rations represented 35%, 23% and 24% of the DM of the rations for the three experiments. The microbiological profiles of the ration were influenced more by the maize silage than by the lucerne silage. Individual daily DM intakes were similar for the two treatments in Experiments 1 and 3 (on average 18·7 kg in Experiment 1 and 20·3 kg in Experiment 3) and slightly lower for S cows in comparison to H cows in Experiment 2 (18·0 vs. 19·0 kg). Milk yields of S and H cows were 21·0 and 20·8, 20·0 and 20·6 (P < 0·01), and 28·4 and 27·9 kg d^–1 in Experiments 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Milk composition was similar for all the experiments for the two treatments, except that the protein content was lower and the fat content was higher in the silage treatment than in the hay. The renneting properties and microbiology of the milk were not influenced by the introduction of lucerne silage into the rations, although the season in which it was consumed had a greater effect on the microbiological content, in terms of standard bacterial counts, proteolytic, coli and lactic acid bacteria, and clostridia spores. The clostridial spore counts were always very low (< 400 per litre), thus fulfilling the requirements for top-quality milk for Grana cheese production. In the third experiment, the quality of Grana Padano cheese produced was examined, and no differences between treatments were observed after 12 months of maturation. These results show that lucerne silage can be included in the ration of dairy cows instead of ventilated lucerne hay, which is considered to be the top-quality hay available for the production of milk destined for Grana cheese, without any negative effects on milk and cheese quality.     

Nematodes and fungal diseases in barley and wheat on Prince Edward Island

A total of 31 genera and 28 species of plant and soil nematodes were identified from 30 commercial fields each of barley and wheat on Prince Edward Island. Root-lesion nematodes, primarily Pratylenchus penetrans, were the dominant plant parasites, and the only endoparasitic nematodes recovered from roots. Root-lesion nematodes were the dominant genus in soil, but stunt nematodes (Tylenchorhynchus spp., primarily T. dubius, and Merlinius spp.), and pin nematodes (Paratylenchus spp.) were also recovered frequently. Common root rot, barley net blotch, and wheat leaf blotch, incited by Cochliobolus sativus, Pyrenophora teres, and Leptosphaeria nodorum, respectively, were prevalent in barley and wheat. The nematicide aldicarb reduced the numbers of root-lesion nematodes in roots and soil in experimental plots during 1984–1987, except from soil in wheat and barley in 1984 and in barley in 1986. Aldicarb treatments also increased grain yields significantly by 10% and 19% in 1984 and 1987, respectively. Aldicarb treatments did not affect the incidence of common root rot, barley net blotch, or wheat leaf blotch disease. Correlation and regression analyses of data from experimental plots did not indicate any significant relationships between population levels of root-lesion nematodes in roots or soil and severity of root or foliar diseases in barley or wheat.     

Effects of soil amendment with poultry manure on carnation Fusarium wilt in greenhouses in southwest Spain

In a search for alternatives to methyl bromide for controlling carnation vascular wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi (Fod), poultry manure plus soil solarization was studied in soil under greenhouse conditions in four 2-year experiments. These were conducted in naturally infested soil to compare the effects of this treatment with soil solarization alone and methyl bromide. Soil treatments were performed during June 2000 for Experiment 1, from July to mid-August 2002 for Experiment 2, from late July to late August 2006 for Experiment 3 and from late May to late June 2008 for Experiment 4. Additionally, a treatment with commercial poultry manure pellet plus soil solarization was included in the two latter experiments. Poultry manure caused reductions of Fod viability in soil samples at depths of 15 and 30 cm, ranging respectively from 93 to 100% and 89 to 100% for Experiments 1, 2 and 3. Carnations planted in plots treated either with poultry manure, methyl bromide or soil solarization had lower final disease incidences, smaller areas under their disease progress curves and higher yields in comparison with untreated plots in Experiments 2, 3 and 4. In Experiment 1, soil solarization was performed under suboptimal conditions, and it provided disease levels and yields similar to those of the untreated control plots. Nevertheless, under the same conditions, previous amendment of Fod-infested soil with poultry manure increased disease control over soil solarization alone, improved carnation yield and quality and also increased plant vigor, thus providing a satisfactory alternative to methyl bromide. The application of organic amendment to the same plot before every crop cycle is recommended to ensure continuous disease control, but the rates of application could be reduced to half for the third and fourth crop cycles, thereby reducing undesirable environmental effects.     

Influence of seed depth and molluscicide pellet placement and timing on slug damage, activity and survival in winter wheat

In a laboratory experiment, grey field slugs (Deroceras reticulatum) were introduced to trays of clay soil drilled with wheat seeds at 10 or 25 mm depth. Trays were left without molluscicide, or methiocarb pellets were drilled with the seeds or placed on the surface of the soil immediately after drilling. In the absence of molluscicide, there was less damage to seeds drilled at 25 mm than at 10 mm. Methiocarb pellets drilled with seeds at 10 mm depth killed slugs and reduced damage to seeds and seedlings, but the percentage of seeds killed was similar to the percentage of deeper-drilled seeds killed where no molluscicide had been applied. Pellets drilled with deeper-sown seeds did not kill slugs, or reduce damage to seeds and seedlings, whereas pellets placed on the soil surface immediately after sowing were effective in killing slugs and reducing plant damage irrespective of drilling depth. The best protection from slug damage was provided by deeper drilling combined with pellets broadcast on the soil surface. In a field experiment, methiocarb pellets broadcast immediately after drilling at two depths killed slugs and protected seedlings from damage, whereas pellets drilled with seeds were ineffective because seed-bed conditions prevented slugs from reaching seeds and pellets (only 4% of seeds were killed by slugs in the absence of molluscicide treatment). The implications of these results for slug control and for non-target fauna (wood mice and ground beetles) are discussed.     

A comparison of methods of establishing swedes following an early silage cut

Experiments were carried out over three seasons in which swedes were sown by precision drilling after ploughing and conventional cultivation or by direct drilling with two types of drill at two row widths with and without shallow cultivation. The swedes were sown in June or early July following a first silage cut and sward desiccation with paraquat. Precision drilling with inter-row cultivation and singling gave a uniform weed-free stand and had the highest mean yield of over 8 t DM ha⁻¹ Where hoeing was omitted yields were reduced due to weed competition. Yields following direct drilling were lower than with precision drilling due to uneven plant establishment, weed competition and grass regrowth. A shallow rotavation prior to direct drilling improved uniformity and yields and reduced grass regrowth. Direct drilling produced high numbers of small roots. The highest root yields were associated with sowing in early June and harvesting in December or January. Overall yields from the silage cut plus direct drilled swedes and silage cut plus precision drilled swedes were 12 and 13 t DM ha⁻¹respectively compared with about 14 t DM ha⁻¹expected from a grass sward.     

Management options for increasing white clover contents of swards, without resowing

Two field experiments were carried out at North Wyke, Devon in 1985 (Experiment A) and 1986 (Experiment B) to investigate the effectiveness of either cutting or rotational sheep-grazing managements for raising the clover content of clover-depleted swards. Subplots were pretreated in March with (a) propyzamide at 0·4kg a.i. ha^-1, (b) chlorpyrifos at 0·72 kg a.i. ha^-1 and methiocarb at 0·22 kg a.i. ha^-1, (c) carbofuran at 1·3 kg a.i. ha^-1, or (d) not so treated, in order to reduce grass tiller density, control insect and mollusk pests, or control all invertebrate pests respectively (a-c), Carbofuran was not applied to swards that were to be grazed subsequently. The propyzamide pretreatment (a) significantly reduced the quantity of herbage dry matter (DM) grazed and the silage DM yields in both years, but raised the numbers of active clover buds, and clover stolon density and its weight in 1986, though not in 1985, The pesticide package (b) raised the quantity of herbage DM grazed in both years, and the silage DM yield in 1986, Carbofuran (c) raised silage yields in 1985. Neither pretreatment (b) nor (c) significantly affected clover performance. In comparison with sheep grazing, cutting showed a trend to higher DM yields, and significantly raised clover stolon density and weight in both years, and active bud numbers in 1986. The periodic sheep grazing management included recovery intervals of 14 d and 35 d. In 1986 (but not 1985) the longer recovery interval raised herbage DM consumption, but had no effect on clover development. The cutting management included nitrogen inputs of either 100 kg ha^-1 in March, or none. N input raised annual DM yields in 1986 (but not 1985) but did not affect clover DM yields or performance in either year. The experiments at North Wyke were supported by on-farm experiments using exclosure cages at ten sites in 1985 and nine in 1986, in Yorkshire, Wales, the Midlands and Devon. In both years, application of propyzamide as in treatment (a) reduced DM yields (P<0.001) and raised the proportion of clover (P<0.001) in May harvests. The density of active clover buds (P<0.05), stolon density (P<0.001) and stolon weight (P<0.001) were increased by October. A combined carbofuran and methiocarb treatment significantly (P<0.001) increased herbage yields, but did not affect measures of clover performance. Unlike the main experiments, a comparison of grazing (outside the cages) and cutting management (within the cages) showed no effect on clover development. It was concluded that cutting, or rotational sheep grazing with a long recovery interval, would promote clover development in the clover depleted sward. Though successful in the overall assessment, application of propyzamide gave highly variable results on different sites and was not sufficiently reliable.     

An assessment of insidious pest damage to 26 varieties of seven species of herbage legumes

During 1977–79 the dry-matter yield of 26 herbage legume varieties receiving frequent applications of the organophosphorous pesticide phorate was compared with that of untreated plots. The total annual DM yield of sainfoin and lucerne was not affected by pesticide treatment. White clover yield was affected: pesticide application increased the DM production of the nine varieties studied by, on average, 9% in 1978 and 13% in 1979. The proportion of white clover present in white clover/ryegrass plots was enhanced by pesticide treatment. No attempt was made to establish the identity of the pest group(s) that may have been responsible for these effects. In a second experiment there was no significant effect on seedling establishment from phorate treatment applied to six legume varieties at the time of sowing.     

LUCERNE STRAIN TRIAL

French, Canadian, U.S.A., German and New-Zealand lucerne strains were compared in a trial under four different cutting treatments from 1951 to 1955 in north-west Norfolk. The French strains W.268 and Du Puits produced the highest yields of dry matter and crude protein, followed by Ile de France, Provence, New Zealand's Marlborough and Germany's Old Franconian Blue and Old Franconian Motley. Rhizoma was the only Canadian strain which produced a high yield of crude protein. The rest of the Canadian and all the U.S.A. strains were inferior yielders compared with those from France. W.268 and Du Puits gave the best relative distribution of dry-matter yield over the season. The highest yield of crude protein and the best distribution of dry-matter and crude-protein yields over the season was given when the first cut was taken at the bud stage and the second cut at 25% flower stage. Cutting treatments with the first cuts taken at the bud stage (early) depressed the growth of weeds more efficiently than cutting treatments with the first cuts taken at the 25% flower stage. Yearly fluctuations in yields over the period of four years were moderate; the majority of strains maintained a high yield into the fifth year.     

Evaluation of bacterial biological control agents for control of root-knot nematode disease on tomato

Among 19 bacterial strains isolated in Yunnan from rhizosphere soils and plant tissues, Bacillus methylotrophicus strain R2-2 and Lysobacter antibioticus strain 13-6 exhibited the highest antagonistic activity against the tomato root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita in plate and greenhouse pot experiments. The two strains, when applied as soil drenches or seed treatments in greenhouse experiments, reduced root-knot severity and incidence on tomato compared to no-bacteria controls. In tomato field trials conducted in separate years, soil drench treatment with either strain reduced root-knot disease levels and increased yields compared to the control. Levels of disease control and yield enhancement provided by the strains were higher than those using the chemicals abamectin and carbofuran. This is the first report of B. methylotrophicus being used as a biocontrol agent against a plant parasitic nematode and the first demonstration that B. methylotrophicus and L. antibioticus can suppress disease caused by root-knot nematodes in the field.     

LEAFINESS, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND YIELD OF SOME LUCERNE VARIETIES

The leaf: stem ratio on green and dry weights, chemical composition and yield of dry-matter and protein per acre were determined for ten varieties of lucerne at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany during 1955–8. The first cut was taken when about 20% of the flowers were open and the subsequent cuts when 10–15% were open.
The mean leaf: stem ratio, based on green weights, showed no significant difference between varieties. The early varieties, however, contained a higher proportion of dry-matter in the leaf and a lower proportion in the stem than did the mid-season and late types. As a result, the early types tended to show a higher leaf: stem ratio based on dry-matter than the mid-season and late types.
The early types also contained a significantly higher percentage of protein than the mid-season and late types, and had a lower crude fibre content for the whole plant.
Highly significant differences were established between varieties and types in the total yields of dry-matter and protein from three cuts in each of three seasons, when all were cut at similar stages of maturity. The heaviest yields of dry-matter and protein were secured from Eynsford, Chartrain-villiers and Du Puits, the lowest from certified Provence and Grimm, both of which came from an environment vastly different from that of Cambridge. Gamma, an early variety, had the highest percentage of crude protein at each cut during the three year period, but it was similar to FD 100 and Marais in total dry matter yield.     

Tylenchorhynchus dubius (Bütschli, 1873) Filipjev, 1936: an injurious root ectoparasite of potatoes?

Summary A trial was established at Woburn Experimental Station to study the effects onH. rostochiensis populations of susceptible and resistant potato varieties under different conditions in 1966. Controlling the cyst nematodes suggested that the root ectoparasiteTylenchorhynchus (mainlyT. dubius) was important. Its effects on the growth of potatoes were studied in pot trials using a lograithmic series of inocula. After 10 weeks nematodes had multiplied and potatoes had decreased in growth in proportion to neamatode density, suggesting the nematodes were harmful. Fumigation deereased the number ofTylenchorhynchus and they were more numerous after ley and lucerne than after arable crops. Brief irrigation and the use of susceptible and resistant potato varieties had not effect on nematode numbers.     

Effect of sowing ratio and stage of maturity at harvest on yield, persistency and chemical composition of fresh and ensiled red clover/lucerne bi-crops

Two experiments investigated (1) the effect of stage of maturity at harvest in the first year on yield and persistency of red clover and lucerne when grown as monocultures and bi‐crops, and (2) the effect of ensiling differing ratios of red clover and lucerne on forage quality and degree of proteolysis. Red clover (cv. Milvus) and lucerne (cv. Vertus) were established in triplicate plots at five sowing ratios:1·00 red clover, 0·75 red clover:0·25 lucerne, 0·50 red clover:0·50 lucerne, 0·25 red clover:0·75 lucerne and 1·00 lucerne. In year 1, plots were harvested in three strips, at different stages of plant maturity, either 11 (early), 13 (mid) or 15 (late) weeks after sowing. In years 2 and 3, the whole plot was harvested at each of four harvests taken during the growing season. The DM yield of lucerne in years 2 and 3 was higher than that of red clover, leading to increased yields from bi‐crops with increasing proportions of lucerne. Strips harvested at the mid‐stage of maturity in the first year on the 0·25 red clover:0·75 lucerne plots produced the highest DM yields overall. Ensiling red clover and lucerne bi‐crops was found to combine the improved wilting properties of lucerne and the reduced proteolysis of ensiled red clover.     

Influence of maceration at cutting on lactic acid bacteria populations, silage fermentation and voluntary intake and digestibility of precision-chopped lucerne silage

Laboratory experiments with lucerne (Medicago sativa) have shown that maceration at cutting improves silage fermentation. Samples taken during wilting and after various ensiling periods were analysed for lactic acid bacteria (LAB) numbers and indices of silage fermentation. In Experiment 1, in which maceration was tested in unwilted and wilted lucerne, there was an additive effect of maceration and wilting on LAB numbers at ensiling, thus LAB numbers were approximately 108 colony-forming units (cfu) g^?1 fresh crop for wilted, macerated forage compared with 103 cfu g^?1 fresh crop for unwilted, unmacerated forage at ensiling. Initially, maceration reduced pH (P < 0·001) and increased lactic acid (unwilted comparison only; P < 0·001) and insoluble N (wilted comparison only; P < 0·001) concentrations. After 70 d ensiling, beneficial effects of maceration were associated only with the wilted silage. In Experiment 2, macerated lucerne was compared with unmacerated material, which was either ensiled after a wilting period of similar length or after wilting had proceeded to the same DM concentration as in the macerated forage. During wilting, LAB numbers were significantly higher in macerated than unmacerated forage (P < 0·05). This was also the case during the first 16 h of ensiling (P < 0·01). A decline in pH was observed earlier in macerated silage. Two days after ensiling, lactic acid concentration was higher in macerated silage (P < 0·05), but insoluble N concentration was not different. In a third experiment, unconditioned forage was compared with forages ensiled after regular conditioning or maceration. Although drying rate over 30 h was not influenced by degree of conditioning, LAB numbers during wilting increased with the degree of conditioning. In silages made from these treatments after 6 h wilting, there were no major effects on fermentation characteristics. In a fourth experiment, digestibility and voluntary intake of precision-chopped silage were measured in sheep and found not to be increased by maceration. It was concluded that maceration per se resulted in marginal improvements in fermentation; however, when maceration also increased DM concentration, fermentation was markedly improved. In these precision-chopped silages, maceration had no effect on intake or digestibility.     

Potato production and incidence ofVerticillium dahliae following rotation to nonhost crops and soil fumigation in the state of Washington

For three years, potato yields, tuber quality, and incidence ofVerticillium dahliae were measured in field plots previously cropped for one year to the following nonhosts: sudan grass, green peas followed by sudan grass (same year), spring wheat, spring wheat followed by sudan grass (same year), sweet corn and field corn. One year rotation to nonhosts did not reduce the population ofV. dahliae propagules in the soil and in only one of the three years wereV. dahliae propagule numbers in potato stems significantly reduced in plots following nonhost crops, compared with plots following potatoes. Verticillium wilt symptoms in potatoes were not reduced by one year rotation to any of these crops and only in one year in three was yield significantly increased. In two of three years, percent U.S. No. 1 tubers was increased following one-year rotation with green peas plus sudan grass, and in one of the two years, specific gravity was increased by rotation. Rotational cropping to nonhosts for two years between potatoes significantly reduced preplant soil populations ofV. dahliae propagules in the soil and in potato stems the following fall. However, soil populations in these two year rotational plots the spring following potato were not reduced compared to plots previously cropped to potatoes two consecutive years. Cropping to nonhosts for two years had no consistent effect on incidence of Verticillium wilt in subsequent potato crops. Two years’ rotation to nonhosts increased plant height and yield compared to continuous cropping to potato but not percent U.S. No. 1 tubers. The various nonhost crops all had about the same non-significant effect on yield. In two out of three years’ trials, fumigation significantly reduced both the incidence of Verticillium wilt and number ofV. dahliae propagules in stems in plots compared to plots non-fumigated. In only one trial, fumigation significantly increased tuber yields and percent U.S. No. 1 tubers.     

Review of the effects of 12 selected biocides on target and non-target soil organisms

This literature review investigates biocides that claim to reduce the populations of specific target groups, i.e. bacteria, saprophytic fungi, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae, protozoa, nematodes, or soil-dwelling microarthropods. Removal or reduction of organism groups in natural ecosystems would allow study of their functional role in non-laboratory situations. The biocides considered in this review are those which are supposed to have a ‘narrow spectrum’ (affect only one group), and can be applied as a solution or suspension to the soil. The effects of aldrin, benomyl, captan, carbofuran, chloroneb, cycloheximide, diazinon, oxytetracycline, parachloronitrobenzene (PCNB), streptomycin, thiabendazole, and thiram on both target and non-target soil organisms are summarized. Each soil organism group except protozoa was reduced by at least one biocide, and usually by several biocides. Of the biocides reviewed, none had effects which were strictly limited to their target group and all have been reported to reduce more than one group of organisms. The responses of soil organisms to these biocides are tabulated.