Management of Meloidogyne javanica in Okra Using Compost of Pequi Fruit Waste

Pequi waste added to soil can lead to promising results in the management of plant nematodes. This study evaluated the effect of organic compost of pequi fruit waste in the control of Meloidogyne javanica in okra plants. The compost was comprised of cattle manure, sugarcane straw, and pequi rind waste in the ratio 1:1:1. Treatments were five doses of organic compost (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 g dm-3) and two additional controls: manure (20 g dm-3) and mineral fertilizer (100 mg dm-3 of N), arranged in randomized block design with 10 repetitions. Different treatments were incorporated into pots containing 3 dm-3 of sandy soil infested with 5,000 eggs of M. javanica. Seedlings were transplanted five days later, and evaluated after 60 days of transplanting. Organic compost with pequi waste incorporated to soil increased shoot dry weight and root weight, and reduced the number of egg masses, galls and eggs of M. javanica per gram of root, and reproduction factor. Doses of 20 and 30 g dm-3 increased plant development and reduced the reproductivity of M. javanica compared to mineral fertilizer.