POTENTIAL MANAGEMENT APPROACHES FOR THE STING NEMATODE IN BERMUDAGRASS SOD PRODUCTION

The sting nematode (Belonolaimus longicaudatus) is a destructive pest of bermudagrass grown for sod. Non-pesticide based management approaches were evaluated in an existing sod field containing a high population of the sting nematode. For each of two years (2002 and 2003), treatments consisted of plots planted to a green manure of oilseed rape (Brassica napus), or tilled once in late winter and spring with a rotary hoe, or amended once with poultry litter (2,950 kg ha-1). Control treatments were plots continuously planted to bermudagrass or fumigated with Dazomet. In the first year, none of the treatments reduced the population of sting nematodes in comparison to continuous bermudagrass. In the second year, plots treated with oilseed rape, tillage, and the fumigant contained lower sting nematode populations than those with continuous bermudagrass. This reduction was evident two months following incorporation of the rape, fumigant or the second tillage. Sod quality in both years was higher only in the soil fumigant treatment