Identification and Management of Parasitic Nematodes Associated with Mulberry in Mansehra, KP, Pakistan

Parasitic nematodes are destructive parasites of crop plants and cause enormous damage to them. The earliest signs of nematodes attack are the inactiveness of growth as infestation of nematodes is a slow process. The survey was held to evaluate the percentage of the plant-parasitic nematodes that related to mulberry in various localities in the District Mansehra. For this purpose Mansehra, Balakot and Oghi were selected. From these different areas soil samples were collected and processed by using Baermann funnel technique to examine and calculate the percentage of saprophytic and parasitic nematode populations. From the results it had shown that samples from Mansehra and Balakot had more parasitic nematodes than saprophytic while samples from Oghi were found saprophytic. Tehsil Mansehra showed 65% whereas tehsil Balakot showed 35% population of parasitic nematodes. From Mansehra and Balakot, Helicotylenchus dihystera was found in profusion. For the management of parasitic nematodes inorganic amendment (Carbofuran) and organic amendments (Poultry manure) were used in 250 gram/tree and 8kg/ tree respectively. Samples and subsamples from both treated and untreated trees showed that Carbofuran exterminated the nematode population entirely whereas the population of parasitic nematodes decreased by the implementation of Poultry manure to a notable point. Histograms analysis and ANOVA was done. ANOVA showed that p value for both Carbofuran and Poultry manure impact in Mansehra and Balakot was 0.0001 and therefore was found significant. Thus both were found effective however Poultry manure is more eco-friendly in nature.