Every year, more and more people begin to grow vegetables and fruits in their own area. In order for the crop to be rich, it is necessary for the plants to provide proper care. One of the most common pests, which pose a very great danger to the garden, are nematodes in the soil. The fight against them (photos of the consequences of these pests look very frightening) can be based on the use of various methods, however, regardless of them, it is very important to detect these parasites in time. Otherwise, nematodes can lead to the complete death of plants, and also cause great harm to human health and domestic animals.
general information
Before you figure out how to deal with these parasites, you need to talk about how nematodes look, photos in the soil of which cannot be confused with any other pest.
In total, there are approximately thirty varieties of nematodes, which can be divided into three categories:
- infectious plants;
- dangerous for animals;
- pose a threat to people.
This article will focus on nematodes that infect plants. The food for these pests is the juice of plants, so their growth and development are significantly slowed down. If you do not start the fight against nematodes in time, then the plant will simply die. It will give an idea of what the nematodes look like, photos in the soil. How to deal with these pests, every farmer should know. It is necessary to have an idea about the main methods of prevention.
Description of external signs of nematodes
Nematodes are worms from one to two millimeters long. Female and male individuals differ externally in size. The former have a slightly longer length. The body shape of the worms can be round, oval or oblong, resembling threads.
Nematodes in the soil (the fight against them can be very diverse) are white and beige. The worms have a well-developed muscular system and a protective membrane, which has a high density. The head of the worms is very small, has movable lips, through which the pests feed.
Nematodes reproduce by laying eggs of white color, which can have a round or oval shape. Larvae do not look like adults, have a white head and a transparent body.
Nematodes, whose photos in the soil look very disgusting, have a well-developed sense of touch, due to the fact that their body is completely covered with tentacles. Pests prefer a dry and warm microclimate that is ideal for breeding and laying eggs.
Varieties of Nematodes
Before you begin to consider the basic methods of combating these pests, you need to understand what their varieties exist. In addition to the basic classification of nematodes in the soil (the fight against them is a very difficult task), eating plants, are of the following types:
It is important to understand that any variety of these worms is a danger to absolutely all plants. They can affect both garden and garden crops, as well as indoor plants. The vital activity of all nematodes is exactly the same, but there are some external differences, as well as preferences in terms of habitat.
Leaf nematode
This variety of worms grows to only 1 millimeter, and the body has the form of threads and beige color. They live on the leaves of plants, which they feed on. Leaf nematode is the most common parasite in our area, which can cause tremendous harm to any plants.
How to find out about the appearance of the leaf nematode in the garden?
The appearance of a nematode in the soil in the infield (the fight against them is a lot of trouble for many gardeners) is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- foliage loses its normal color and becomes covered with brown spots;
- the leaves begin to curl;
- petioles increase in size;
- the plant begins to grow poorly and bear fruit;
- buds during flowering are covered with brown spots;
- glossy spots appear on the bottom of the leaves, which then turn brown.
If the pest control is not started in time, then the plant will gradually dry out and eventually decay completely. At the same time, a solution to this problem should be approached in a comprehensive manner, since nematodes in the soil (the struggle with them is very difficult) can endure any frosts and will start devouring other plants next year.
Favorite Treats of Leaf Nematodes
As mentioned earlier, these parasitic worms are able to infect absolutely any flora, but most often they attack the following plants:
- Strawberry;
- chrysanthemum;
- indoor fern;
- orchid;
- Money Tree;
- aster;
- dahlia;
- cloves.
Therefore, if you are engaged in the cultivation of these plants, it is very important to carry out certain preventive measures in advance to protect them from the nematode. They will be discussed a little later.
Stem nematode
Stem nematodes in the soil of indoor plants are a very common phenomenon that many flower growers encounter. This variety of worms grows to a length of one millimeter. It affects the stems, leaves and flowers of the plant, falling on them through the rhizome.
The presence of these pests can be found by the following manifestations:
- plant growth slows down;
- the thickness of the stem increases, the color of which grows dull;
- blooming buds very quickly dry and fall;
- in the absence of any pest control measures, the flower dies.
Stem nematodes prefer humidity, however, despite this, they are able to survive for a rather long period of time under any climatic conditions. Most often, worms of this species parasitize on vegetable crops.
Root nematode
The root nematode has the largest body size, which has a yellow or brown color and can reach a length of 2 millimeters, so it is very simple to distinguish it from other varieties. This pest poses the greatest danger to plants, since it infects its root system. In this case, the plant completely stops growing, and also gradually fades, until eventually dies at all.
What danger are nematodes for plants?
Before discussing how to get rid of the nematode in the soil, it is necessary to talk about the danger these pests pose to flora. Devouring plants, the worms, along with the juice, draw all the nutrients out of them. In addition, the vital products of these pests are very powerful toxins, poisoning plants that lose their normal shape and color, stop growing and developing, and also bring significantly less yield.
The whole complexity of the fight against nematodes is that their presence is very difficult to detect in a timely manner. With the naked eye, this cannot be done due to its too small size. Leaf and stem worms can be seen only through a magnifying glass, and root worms live in the ground, so you have to dig a plant altogether. The root system in this case will be covered with brown seals.
It is worth noting that due to toxic substances released by nematodes, burns and irritations can appear on the skin, therefore, when fighting worms, clothes with long sleeves and gloves should be used.
Pest Management Methods
Every farmer and gardener is interested in the question of how to deal with the nematode in the soil. This process is quite difficult, therefore, with a very severe damage to the plant, in order to prevent the spread of parasites to neighboring crops, it is better to throw it away.
The most effective means
Novice gardeners have never heard of fulmigation, which is the most effective pest control method. What is soil fumigation against nematodes? This treatment of plants and soil with special toxic substances and their vapors. You can buy chemicals at any gardening store. Experienced farmers recommend the use of Nefamos, Dimethoat or Vidat, which spray plants. To make them more effective, chemical treatment of crops is best done on a clear, calm day. If the plant was affected by root nematodes, then the chemicals are diluted with water and added to the root system. It is worth noting that these tools kill only adult worms, so spraying is recommended to be performed several times so that the larvae also die.
Other Worm Control Methods
An alternative to chemicals is biological agents. They are absolutely safe for plants and people, because they do not contain any toxins. One of the most potent drugs in this group is Nematofagin. When using it, the dosage indicated by the manufacturer should be strictly adhered to. Otherwise, the plant may burn and die. If you are interested in the question of how to treat the soil from a nematode with minimal harm to the plant, then biological products will be the best solution for saving plants from pests.
In the fight against worms that eat rhizome, you can also use heat treatment. For this, the plant is dug up, damaged sections of its root system are cut off, after which the rhizome is immersed for 5 minutes in water heated to 50 degrees. However, it is important to understand that if the worms managed to infect a large part of the root system, then this method may be useless, since when the majority of the rhizome is removed, the plant may not survive.
After completion of the heat treatment, the plant is planted in a new place. In order for it to take root normally and be able to recover, it is recommended to add a small amount of anti-nematode preparation to the bottom of the hole. After planting, the soil should be loosened. This is necessary in order to provide the root system with an influx of a sufficient amount of oxygen. This method is suitable for controlling nematodes of any variety, but in the case of leafy and stem worms, the leaves and stems are thermally treated. At the same time, plant transplantation is also mandatory.
Preventive actions
So, the most effective remedies for nematodes in the soil are chemical preparations, however they are very toxic, therefore their use can bring both benefit and harm. Therefore, than fighting pests, it is better to try to prevent their appearance.
To do this, carry out the following preventive measures:
- regularly fight weeds;
- remove fallen leaves in a timely manner;
- remove yellowed leaves from plants;
- Perform periodic plant transplants;
- fluff up the earth regularly;
- carefully choose planting material;
- Do not water the plants with too much water;
- dig an infield every fall.
By adhering to these simple tips and tricks, you can prevent the appearance of not only the nematode, but also many other pests.
Conclusion
If, nevertheless, the plant was affected by worms and cannot be restored, then it should be burned. If this is not done, then the worms will spread to other plants, which can also die. At the same time, it is very important to detect pests in time, since they have a high reproductive ability. Therefore, if you want your garden to always be in order and give a good harvest, keep an eye on it at any time of the year.