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Responses of Plant Parasitic and Saprophytic Nematode Populations to Composted Municipal Refuse¹

ABSTRACT

The effective disposal of composted municipal refuse poses important ecological problems. Efforts to recycle this material must be guided by knowledge of its ecological impact upon a natural environment. The influence on nematode populations of incorporating composted municipal refuse in Leon fine sand was investigated over a period of 2 years. This study was a randomized complete block experiment with oat (Avena sativa L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) used as test crops. Mineral fertilizer (10-4.4-8.3) applied at the rate of 0.9 tons/ha was compared with compost applied at rates of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32 tons/ha. Populations of Helicotylenchus spp., plant parasitic nematodes, were highest in the fertilized and lowest in the 8, 16, and 32 tons/ha compost plots. Populations of another parasitic nematode, Criconemoides spp., were not greatly reduced by compost. Populations of cephalobids and rhabditids (saprophagous nematodes) were highest in the soil receiving 32 tons/ha of compost.

Key Words: solid waste disposal • organic toxins • Leon fine sand • nematode control

¹ Contribution from the Dept. of Soil Science, and Entomology and Nematology, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, 32601. Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Series Paper No. 4424.

² Former Graduate Assistant now Research Microbiologist at US Army Engineer Waterways Exp. Sta., Vicksburg, Miss.; Associate Professor, Dept. of Soil Science; and Associate Professor, Dept. of Entomology and Nematology, Univ. of Florida, respectively.