Role of plant parasitic nematodes and abiotic soil factors in growth heterogeneity of sugarcane on a sandy soil in South Africa

摘要: A feature of many sugarcane fields is the patchy growth. This often thought to be due physical or chemical differences in soil. In this paper we investigate causes growth heterogeneity on a sandy soil KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. To identify factors that were associated with good and poor areas, texture, pH, organic matter content number elements nematode community data subjected principal component analysis (PCA). The numbers each species (Meloidogyne sp., Pratylenchus zeae, Helicotylenchus dihystera, Xiphinema elongatum Paratrichodorus sp.) first converted relative proportions ectoparasites endoparasites. collected from 2nd ratoon crop nematicide trial, where half plots had been treated aldicarb preceding two crops. Yields control varied 34.7 126.8 t cane ha−1 85.4 138.7 for plots. yield centred normalised separately values projected trial map study spatial distribution. Plots above-average yields, whether untreated, occurred lower part site. PCA factorial also onto trial. According factor abiotic characteristics 0–20 cm surface layer, site could divided into one left right. 20–40 layers showed there was little no difference between might explain areas. However, distinguished main areas largely corresponded distribution low high yielding cane. Correlation confirmed relationship nematodes yield. H. dihystera positively correlated whereas reverse true Meloidogyne species.