Potato nematode: how to deal with the most common garden pest

Hello! Last fall, I had to share my potato crop and good tips for getting a healthy crop.

And the thing was this. The neighbor did not particularly closely monitor her plot. As a result, a nematode appeared and sentenced the harvest of her potatoes to oblivion.

We don’t abandon our trouble, so I gave part of my neighbor to the neighbor and talked about the means of the nematode for the future. Want to learn how to deal with potato nematodes? What preventative measures should be taken? In the material below I will reveal in detail these and other questions on the topic.

Fighting Golden Potato Nematode

The golden potato nematode is a worm that is visible only through a microscope that parasitizes on the roots of potatoes and tomatoes, causing the most harmful disease of these crops in Russia (globoserosis). The infected bushes grow slowly, the lower leaves turn yellow and dry out.

In Russia, a golden potato nematode was first discovered in 1949 in the Kaliningrad region. Currently, it is distributed almost throughout the territory of the Russian Federation.

For a person, it is not dangerous, at the same time it can destroy up to 90% of the potato crop, and also have a negative effect on other crops.

Nematode cysts are very small, therefore, they spread from infected areas not only with tubers, seedlings, seedlings, garden tools and agricultural machines, but also with lumps of land that stick to human shoes and animal paws, flood waters and even wind.

But not everything is so scary. Europeans, for example, not only learned how to protect potatoes from a nematode, but also get wonderful crops. The main thing at the same time is to be able to recognize in time the approaching danger and, of course, prevention.

If a spot of dying plants has appeared on your landings already at the end of June, this should alert you. Inspect the plants carefully.

If the cultivation of the land was carried out manually - with a shovel, then after an accidental introduction of individual cysts, narrowly limited rounded foci form with a sharp decrease in plant inhibition from the center to the periphery. Affected plants lag behind in growth and development, have a depressed appearance. The stems are few and frail, prematurely yellowing.

Since a similar picture can be observed for other reasons, for example, drought or low soil fertility, the exact establishment of the pathogen is possible only in a special laboratory in a quarantine inspection or at a plant protection station.But the owners themselves should not be inactive.

What to do if there is a suspicion of infection with a nematode? Immediately restrict access to the detected outbreak by outsiders. Dig a dubious plant, carefully along with the basal soil and carefully examine the roots of the affected plants and the adjacent land.

The presence of white or yellow grains of sand is what may turn out to be nematode cysts. It is best to take the infected plant along with basal soil and show it to specialists. If this is not possible, report your findings to any official agency related to agriculture.

If your site is not completely infected with a nematode, but has only a few small foci of infection, you can try to deal with the nematode in cardinal ways. To do this, dig the affected plants without shaking the soil from the roots, put them in a bucket, tank or basin, and then take them out of the field and burn them in a high flame.

Be sure to clean the shovel and other agricultural implements, as well as the sole of the shoes after work, from the soil and treat with 4% formalin, or at least rinse thoroughly, and drain the water away from the nightshade. It is not worth leaving plants affected by a potato nematode before harvesting.

Harvest of potatoes from the site where the lesion was found, will have to be thoroughly washed from the ground, in which cysts can remain, and used only for food purposes in your own farm. Of course, there can be no question of any sale. Burn the collected tops and roots. Do not leave tubers on the field, even small ones.

Reducing the harmfulness of the parasite is possible only with strict adherence to quarantine rules. One of the main rules of which is high-quality planting material. That is why you should not purchase planting material (seed potatoes, seedlings, seedlings) of unknown origin.

In an extreme case, if planting material without documents confirming its safety has already been purchased, tubers must be thoroughly washed in running water before planting, dried, and greened. This will not save you from diseases, but a cyst with nematodes that adhere to the ground can be destroyed.

If your site is badly infected, then you should not sit back: the situation itself can change, only for the worse (for example, the loss of 90% of the nightshade crop). In infected areas, first of all, planting of nightshade crops (potatoes, tomato, eggplant, sweet and bitter peppers, sarah, cocoon, naranjila, physalis, nightshade) should be stopped.

For two, three years, take up infected areas with non-affected crops, such as beans or vegetables. Then cultivate resistant varieties to the nematode for two years. By the way, there are not a few of them - in the State Register more than a third of potato varieties possess this property.

What happens when planting resistant varieties? Sprouting potato plants stimulate the exit of cysts of larvae that invade their roots. And then, in the cells of the root of the nematode tolerant variety, substances are formed that contribute to the formation of necrotic (dead) cells around the head end of the larvae.

The supply of food stops - and the nematodes die without completing the development cycle, or turn into males or immature females.

As a result, the parasite population decreases by 40-80% depending on weather conditions, soil type, and agricultural technology.However, nematode tolerant varieties can be grown on the same site for no more than three to four years in a row.

Then an unstable variety is planted for one year, and then resistant varieties are cultivated again. Such an alternation of varieties is necessary so that new, more hardy types of parasite do not appear. In the future, this alternation of varieties follows.

Presowing the application of high doses of organic fertilizers (rotted manure, chicken droppings) to the soil infected with golden potato nematode activates the activity of the enemies of the nematode (carnivorous fungi and nematodes, annelids).

On the other hand, having a balanced set of nutrients in the soil will increase the endurance of the plants themselves.

A similar effect is achieved by the introduction of mineral fertilizers, which are used as potassium granular fertilizer with the addition of copper, zinc, boron; Kemir potato, nitrophosphate, universal organomineral fertilizer with the brand name "Potato", humate urea, granular superphosphate.

Wood ash remains a valuable fertilizer for potatoes. Humated fertilizer based on ash - “Bulba” - is used in the processing of tubers before planting (dusting at the rate of 80-100 g per 10 kg of tubers).

Of the chemicals used to combat the nematode, the following can be advised:

1. Before planting potatoes, urea is introduced into last year's infection foci, then spilled with infusion of potato sprouts: 1 kg of sprouts are passed through a meat grinder and 10 liters of water are poured (consumption per 100 m²). This stimulates the exit of larvae from cysts and their death.
2. During planting, 2–3 handfuls of rotted manure or compost, one handful of ash, one tablespoon of bird droppings powder are brought into the hole. All this is sprinkled with soil and the tuber is planted with a sprout up.
3. Immediately after planting potatoes, liquid chicken droppings from 4 to 10 liters per 1 m² are applied to the soil (at a dilution of 1:10 or 1:20). The solution destroys up to 90% of the larvae.
4. When hilling, mineral fertilizers are introduced into the row-spacings, having retreated 5-6 cm from the stems, and then they are covered with soil.
5. For feeding potatoes it is good to use fresh and dried chicken droppings, mullein, liquid manure. At the same time, raw litter and mullein are diluted with water 1:10, insist 5-7 days, dried litter insist 2-3 days at a ratio of 1:30. Top dressing is carried out on moist soil after rain or watering.
6. After harvesting, lime is added, spreading evenly, and when digging, they are embedded in the soil. With increased soil acidity, the severity of the disease increases.

Only rotted manure should be introduced. The use of not overripe manure is unacceptable, since it can have a toxic effect on the root system, contributes to weed infection of the soil.

It is necessary to ruthlessly dig out and, together with the roots, destroy all diseased, not varietal plants, and, when planting and harvesting, discard sick, deformed spindle-shaped tubers.

Let us remind once again that the golden potato nematode is not at all dangerous for humans, therefore, the harvest from infected areas can be safely used for food purposes or technical processing.

Types of parasite

There are a lot of various diseases and pests affecting potatoes, and among them there are parasitic nematodes - worms. Potato nematode infection is very difficult to detect in the initial stages. Usually, a gardener can see that his potato is infected with a nematode only during harvesting.

There are three main types of potato nematode. Each of the species of this pest parasitizes on certain parts of nightshade plants. The main types of nematodes include: stem, golden and gall nematodes.

Stem

This type of pest can affect both the stems and tubers of potatoes. The main signs of infection of potato bushes with this type of nematode are:

• potato stalks become thick and begin to grow intensively;
• the presence of small distances between nodes on the stems;
• small and pale leaves, the edges of which have a wavy shape.

Potato stalk nematode is most harmful to tubers, especially during storage. The main stages of infection of potato tubers with a nematode are as follows:

In the future, pests in the form of roundworms that have a length of up to 1 mm and a body diameter of up to 0.3 mm will be moved from infected tubers to healthy ones. Nematodes spread very quickly to potatoes that are not properly stored.

Most often, potato infection manifests itself in the spring, when the signs become better manifested, as air temperature rises.

Golden

This nematode belongs to quarantine pests, which accumulate extremely quickly in the soil in the form of cysts, in which up to 1200 eggs can be found. The main signs of infection of potatoes with such pests are:

1. long and fairly thin stems;
2. a significant lag of the plant in growth compared to others;
3. yellowing and wilting of the lower leaves on the stems of potatoes;
4. the absence of tubers or the formation of only small 1-2 potatoes;
5. the roots are thin in many places blackened and has an unusually large branching.

The golden nematode does not infect tubers; it predominantly parasitizes only on the root system, extracting all nutrients from plants.

Pests contribute to clogging of blood vessels, therefore, due to lack of nutrients and water, plants die.

This type of nematode hibernates in the form of cysts on the root system of potatoes. Cysts can be seen when harvesting, they look like golden brown balls.

Gall

This type of nematode can infect not only potatoes, but also the root system of pumpkin and other nightshade. The main signs of potato infection by such a pest are:

• root system with swellings (galls);
• the presence of tubercles on tubers;
• lagging plants in growth against the background of others.

The lag of plants in growth and the formation of swelling is due to the fact that from the presence of worms in the vessels, they become clogged. Usually this pest causes great harm to potatoes only if many years of growing one crop in the same place.

After 6-7 years, so many cysts accumulate in the soil that a very large number of potatoes are affected and there may be no harvest at all.

Methods of struggle

Fighting these pests is extremely difficult. Therefore, preventive measures are usually applied that do not allow pests to appear and develop in personal plots. Basic preventive measures:

In such varieties, upon infection, a layer of dead cells forms around the pest, which contributes to the destruction of the nematode.

It is extremely difficult to deal with nematodes, since it is almost impossible to detect them in the initial stages. Therefore, it is necessary to take the necessary preventive measures that will avoid many diseases and pests.

High-quality crop rotation and the use of healthy planting material are the main measures against any disease and any pest. This should always be remembered.

Signs, prevention and control methods for potato pest

The potato nematode is a tiny round worm, up to 1 mm long, which can be characterized by a popular saying: “It doesn’t sink in water, it doesn’t burn in fire”. This pest really seems invulnerable: its eggs hibernate in the soil and do not die even in the most severe frosts.

The birthplace of the potato nematode is South America. This parasite came to Europe a little more than 100 years ago: in 1913, and later, in 1949, from Germany to the territory of the Russian Federation. The first foci of infection arose in the Kaliningrad region.

Now at risk are areas bordering Ukraine and Kazakhstan, as well as the Leningrad region. After locating a potato nematode in any locality, quarantine is immediately declared. Thanks to this, the spread of the pest was slowed down. Most of the contaminated lands (90%) are household plots.

Kinds

Golden nematode. This pest penetrates the root of the bush and feeds on its juices, preventing the access of beneficial substances to other parts of the plant. As a result, the potato dries prematurely, starting from the lower leaves.

The male potato nematodes are similar to ordinary tiny worms. They do not eat at all and live only 10 days. Their task is to fertilize the females. In females, the body is spherical, a few days after fertilization, it begins to fill with eggs. By autumn, the female’s body darkens, acquiring a golden brown hue.

In autumn, females die, turning into cyst capsules, each of which contains up to 800 eggs. Cysts can lie in the ground even for 10 years. Larvae do not hatch from the same cyst at the same time: sometimes this process takes up to 6 years. The capsule shell is strong enough, and the cysts, without damage to the eggs, are carried with the wind or with streams of rainwater.

Golden potato nematode parasitizes on the roots of all plants from the solanaceous family: on potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, physalis, peppers.

Pale nematode. It differs from the golden nematode only in color: as it develops, the body of the female from white becomes brown.

Stem nematode. This worm up to 1 mm in size affects the stems of a plant, tubers. It is easy to recognize the tuber in which the parasites have settled: tiny dark spots are clearly visible on the peel. Directly under the peel are areas of light but loose pulp. In the case of a severe lesion, the peel cracks, and dust forms under it (dry rot).

The stem nematode multiplies intensively in a humid environment. Particularly “loves” the parasite’s raw cellars, where it crawls from one tuber to another, gradually infecting all the seed material.

Gall Nematode. This type of nematode parasitizes on the roots and tubers of potatoes, but does not disdain pumpkin pumpkins (squash, squash, squash, melons). A symptom of a gall potato nematode is tuber tuberosity. Sometimes on the roots of plants, growths (galls) are formed with a diameter of up to 3 cm. The pest prevents access to the stems of plants of water and nutrients.

Signs of occurrence

Often, a nematode is found in areas only when soil contamination reaches a critical value. One of the indirect signs of the appearance is the presence of “bald spots” on the potato field: when among the green leaves, several bushes turn yellow and dry for no reason.

But even if no cysts are noticeable, the causelessly withered bush should be carefully carried along with tubers and a lump of soil (about 1 kg) to the laboratory. There, experts will determine the presence and concentration of potato nematodes.

Methods of prevention and control

The potato nematode is an insidious enemy, and it can only be defeated using a whole range of methods. There are no effective and safe methods for the complete destruction of the potato nematode for humans.

Nevertheless, do not despair. In Europe, this parasite appeared much earlier than in Russia, there are almost more quarantine sites there, however, the potato harvest there (especially Dutch) is quite high.

In order to finally cope with a potato nematode, it will take more than one decade of hard work, but its population can be significantly reduced within one to two years.

If the number of nematodes does not exceed 3-5 cysts per 100 cm³ of soil, the pest has almost no effect on potatoes. Productivity is significantly reduced when 10-16 or more cysts are found in 100 cm³ of soil.

There are several simple and affordable ways to deal with potato nematodes:

Crop rotation. Potatoes can not be planted from year to year on the same site.If you don’t even use other methods, but just plant potatoes in one place no more than once every three to four years, the site will be seriously infected with a potato nematode no earlier than 45 years later.

But pests adapt very quickly. Therefore, it is recommended that non-nematode tolerant varieties be planted only for three consecutive years, and for the fourth year, use the seed material of the usual variety. There is another option: to grow only nemato-resistant varieties, but change them every four years.

In autumn, all the tops and weeds from the infected area should be burned. Precautions must be observed: all working tools after harvesting must be disinfected with a 4% formalin solution.

Fertilizer for potato nematode - poison. Therefore, in autumn and spring, urea can be added to the soil.

If the area affected by the nematode is small, it is recommended to dig a hole 1 m deep, collect infected tops and weeds in it, and then fill it with urea at the rate of 5-6 kg per 1 m³ of greenery. Sprinkle everything on top with earth from an uninfected area.

Before germination, carefully select only healthy tubers, wash them and disinfect in a solution of potassium permanganate (0.5 grams per 10 liters of water).

When planting, use bird droppings (pigeon, chicken, quail) as fertilizer. If the litter is dry, approximately one tablespoon should be added to each well. Fresh litter is bred in a proportion of 1:10 and watered potatoes already planted.

For the nematode, the discharges of the roots of rye, marigold, marigold, legumes (beans, beans, peas), mustard, clover are harmful. Up to 90% of the larvae can be destroyed if rye is planted in the middle of September. Before frosts, the field should be dug up, and rotten straw will serve as an excellent fertilizer in the spring. Legumes, on the roots of which nodules containing nitrogen are formed, are often planted between rows of potatoes.

If the concentration of the nematode is very high, you can use potent toxic chemicals, for example, thionazine. However, these funds must be paid strictly according to the instructions no later than 6 weeks before planting.

What to do if a potato nematode appears

Slow growth of potatoes, yellowing of the lower leaves of the tops and their further drying out is a clear sign that the culture is affected by the nematode. Infection easily occurs through a working tool, contaminated shoes, seeds. To cope with this scourge, you need to get to know the enemy better.

Worm Life Cycle

The potato nematode belongs to round parasitic worms that populate the roots of plants from the nightshade family. Rounded white grains of sand, as if adhering to the roots, are the females of the worm, destroying up to 80% of the crop.

The appearance of a nematode on potato tubers is characteristic of waterlogged soils, especially in those fields where the same crop is constantly sown. The complexity of the fight against the worm lies in the absence of signs of infection in the early stages.

A dangerous representative of the fauna has already penetrated the beds, settled on the roots and continues to busily populate neighboring plants, and the owner of the site does not even suspect anything.

Signs of illness

The defeat of the potato by the nematode at first practically does not manifest itself:

If these symptoms of the disease are ignored, then events will develop further, like an avalanche rushing off a cliff. The source of the problem is cysts that winter safely in the soil.

If the culture fell ill at the beginning of summer, then, most likely, it will die before the fall, without delighting the hosts with the crop. Late infection may allow the plant to form tubers, but their number and size will be very small.

Ways to fight

Fighting a nematode on potato beds primarily consists of destroying the roots infected with cysts.

If the main breeding ground for the infection is not removed and destroyed in the fall, then in spring the hatching larvae penetrate the tubers and begin to feed actively, remaining there until the adult stage. Hatching of larvae from one single cyst can last up to 6 years.

Ways to combat the nematode are numerous, the offensive is carried out systematically and, preferably, on all fronts simultaneously.

You can’t rely "on chance", not pay attention to the signs of the disease. The most effective methods are:

1. mechanical;
2. chemical;
3. biological;
4. bacterial;
5. agrotechnical.

Mechanical. It is recommended to deal with potato pest at the stage of infection of one instance. Sick stems stand out sharply against the general background. As soon as even a single affected shoot has appeared, it must be removed from the rows.

Agrotechnical. This technique of war against a nematode on potato beds is perhaps the most effective. Proper crop rotation and agricultural practices are guaranteed to be protected from the microscopic aggressor. Crops alternate, taking into account previous crops, observing the proximity of plants, returning to their former place after 3-4 years.

Healthy plants are more resistant to the potato nematode. Strengthen the immunity of plants by applying with fertilizers the necessary complex of trace elements:

• "Potato" universal;
• the composition of Kemir;
• ash;
• superphosphate;
• trace elements Zn, Cu, B;
• potassium in granular fertilizer;
• pollinate planting material means "Bulba".

To suppress infection, potato varieties are resistant and nematode-resistant. In a stable variety, dead cells form at the injection site of the larvae, disrupting the flow of plant juices. The larva starves and eventually dies.

Roundworm resistant varieties:

In order not to grow a “super parasite” that cannot be dealt with even with the help of chemistry, only resistant types of vegetables cannot be grown. Every 4 years, an unstable variety is planted, and then returned to the previous choice.

Chemical. Immunity to the pest of potatoes provides the treatment of seed tubers with growth stimulants:

1. Epin;
2. Albite;
3. Gumi.

If the infection site behaves aggressively, is steadily expanding, plantings are treated with Bazudin, which at the same time ends the wireworm. You must also use a formalin solution to disinfect the instrument. Do not pour the solution after treatment on the site.

Digging, they try to capture a large enough lump of land so as not to leave a chance for the potato nematode to wait out the trouble on the nearest healthy plant. Urea can serve as a reliable way to neutralize the enemy. It is necessary, sparingly, to scatter around the dug hole and fill it into the hole itself.

Bacteriological. The drug Nematode-predator Nemabakt will save from potato disaster. She does not offend her relatives, but crowds them out of their homes. In order to get rid of the worm, and at the same time from the wireworm, they add the Protection product or the drug itself when planting.

Biological. It is recommended to add organic matter to the soil in spring in order to activate annelids - the natural enemies of the nematode, as well as to plant undersized marigolds on the site. Variety Tagetes erecta is able to destroy up to 95% of parasitic worms.

Active substances are released during growth. It is useful to plant nasturtium, calendula, beans, sweet clover.

It is very difficult to fight with such a pest as a nematode, since only strong poisons can cope with it. Instead of chemistry, you can plant winter rye in the affected area in autumn. This cereal is an unpretentious siderat with a powerful root system. In the spring, they dig the soil along with rye.

Features of prevention

The best prevention of potato damage by a nematode is strict observance of crop rotation: nightshade plants are re-planted on the site after 4 years. If from year to year you do not change the place for culture, then serious damage will be done from the healthy greenery of lush bushes. Deformed shoots appear 1.5 months after sowing.

To protect the potatoes on the beds from the nematode will help:

• crop rotation compliance;
• digging the soil in the fall on a bayonet shovel;
• selection of healthy seed;
• disinfection of garden tools;
• use of biological control agents: planting of marigolds in spring, winter rye in autumn.

It must be remembered that the nematode is a quarantine pest, it is recommended to report cases of infection to phytocontrol. Quarantine stations are professionally engaged in the destruction of a parasitic worm that spreads with the speed of a forest fire.

One of the dangerous pests

Nematode is one of the dangerous pests of potatoes. Moreover, it spoils all plants of the nightshade genus. Both larvae and their eggs are dangerous, which can be up to 600 pieces from one female. In appearance, the Nematode first resembles worms, then bugs.

What a nematode of potato looks like can be seen on forums of summer residents, websites of gardeners and other resources devoted to gardening. If nothing is done, the pest can destroy up to 70% of the crop.

There are three types of insects: pale nematode, root nematode and stem nematode. Each pest species damages its area of ​​plants. The root system usually suffers. Females settle in the roots because they need a lot of nutrients. From the nutrition and how many eggs will be laid.

The pest digs into the stems of the potato and sucks out all the juices that were supposed to go to the development of the crop. Affected cultures smell of damp and rot.

Signs

If you run the site, signs of damage may not be seen. At that moment, the plants will die. Pay attention to the stalks of potatoes. Yellow leaves, wilting at noon, dry areas at the bottom of the bush are the first signs of infection.

Early varieties of potatoes can be affected by 80%, as well as medium-maturity types of crops. Losses in the harvest of late ripe potatoes are usually 30%.

What can be done as a preventative measure?

Change the soil for nightshade plants every 3 years. If Nematode is found on the site, plant plants there that she does not eat.

It is imperative to dig a lot deep in the fall. If suspicious bushes and tubers are found on the site, they are dug up and destroyed with the near layer of earth.

New varieties of potatoes and seeds are bought only in specialized stores. Be sure to save the check.

How to fight

Inspect the site. If there are spots with frail plants, dig one bush and look at the roots. Fine grains of sand of a white shade or golden color can be parasite eggs. When a nematode is discovered, dig up the entire suspicious area along with the basal ground. All this is carefully collected in a tank and burned in a fire with a strong flame.

On the ground where potatoes grew you can sow winter rye. After such a neighbor, the nematode usually does not survive. Rye does not eat the parasite.

There are varieties of potatoes that the pest does not eat. Among them are species such as Diamond, Atlas, Valor, Victoria and others. Sometimes, insects adapt and taste the potatoes. But, in the root system there are specific substances.

They affect the pests in such a way that only males are born or the pests die. It may happen that there will be only immature females. But, remember that such a potato will withstand the onslaught of insects for a maximum of 3 years, then they will have immunity, and they will eat the crop. Change grades.

Do not let people to your site so that they do not spread the infection with the shoes with the shoes.

Treat household equipment, clothes and shoes with formalin (4%), water after treatment is poured into a place far from the site.

Show infected plants to agronomists. It is possible that this is a new type of disease. Additional tests have never been redundant.

How the nematode affects a person

For humans, Nematodes are not dangerous. You can eat such plants without excitement. The bottom line is that it kills the entire crop. From the infected area you will not get more than 3 potatoes from the bush. Considering how hard it is to take care of the site, and what the costs are, it's not enough.

Carefully monitor the site, do prophylaxis in time and the harvest will always be rich.

Harvest struggle

Even if the potato nematode has not yet thoroughly settled on your site, do not lose vigilance, this can happen at any time. Fighting for a crop with a potato nematode is not easy. Chemical control agents in this case are powerless.

The way out of this situation is to restore the fertility of the upper soil layer. Only depleted soil and the lack of crop rotation create favorable conditions for the emergence of such a scourge.

In the fight against the nematode, modern man called for help EM technology together with such long-known folk remedies as rye and marigolds. Their combined use has become an effective and safe action against the disease. It helps the plant to cope with the disease, and at the same time takes care of the soil.

The slow growth and poor development of the potato bush in most cases indicates that a nematode has settled in it.

The roots of plants penetrate deep into the soil, and nematodes do not tolerate them and die. Thus, marigolds effectively disinfect the soil.

The volatile properties of this flower can be successfully used in the fight against aphids. In this case, spraying with infusion has an effective effect. First you need to prepare the plant protection product “EM-5”, and then marigold insist on this solution.

Spray the plants every morning and evening for fifteen days. At the same time, try, in order to avoid burns on the leaves, to do this in cloudy weather.

When harvesting the site before the tops are frozen, the roots of the flowers are cut, chopped and embedded in the soil. Here, marigolds are sprayed at a dilution of 1: 100 with Baikal EM1 bio-solution, sprinkled with EM-Urgas and mulched.

Among siderats, rye is considered the most effective plant for nematodes. The roots of the plant secrete “coma” into the soil, namely these substances kill the nematode. After sowing winter rye, the field is cleared of it by 70-80%.

As soon as you remove the potato field in the autumn, sow it with rye. For convenience, it is better in rows, and preferably not later than September 15. Before the frost, rye still has time to grow and branch.

The best siderat with a nematode is winter rye. Before frost, it is cut down, and the green mass fits between the rows. The roots are not dug up, but are chopped with a shovel along with greenery.

The moment that the Effective Microorganisms hit the fresh cut is very important. The processing of green mass begins immediately. The effect will increase with the additional introduction of EM-Urgasy and mulching from above with EM-compost or earth.

The introduction of Baikal EM1 and Urgasy restore the structure of the earth and increase the immunity of plants. Pests and diseases are known to attack weakened bushes. A healthy plant is not afraid of any infection, including a nematode.

Therefore, it is recommended that when preparing potatoes for planting, take some preventive measures. For example, wash tubers before germinating.

To sustain the grown tubers before planting for two hours in a solution of Baikal EM1 in a dilution of 1: 1000 or sprinkle with them. The endurance of the plants will increase the soil, with a balanced microelement composition. Therefore, when planting potatoes in the holes, it is useful to add a handful of EM compost, a pinch of Zeolite or wood ash. Tubers should be well treated with Bulba fertilizer.

A visible effect is given by planting around the potato field of sweet clover, beans and calendula. So that the uterine tubers are no longer a breeding ground for the disease, when harvesting potatoes, put them in a separate container and bury them outside the site.

It is recommended to grow potato varieties that are relatively resistant to the nematode disease, such as Sante, Crystal, Alvara, Anosta, Frigate, Lukyanovsky, etc.