Coastal Bermudagrass Rotations for Control of Root-knot Nematodes:.

The use of 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) and e thy lene d ib romide (EDB) as soil fumigants to control nematodes has been banned. Other nematicides are more expensive and often less effective than DBCP and EDB and may experience a similar fate. A renewed interest in biological control o f nematodes will surely follow. Among root-knot nematode-resistant crops that may be used in rotation with susceptible crops are the perennial ber• mudagrasses (Cynodon dactylon L.) 'Coastal' and 'Coastcross-1 '. Coastal bermudagrass sod turned 25-30 cm deep with a moldboard plow recovers slowly enough that many annual crops can be grown with little competition from the grass. When such crops are harvested, Coastal will quickly form a sod without replanting; it can recover fertilizer not used by the annual crops and produce hay for which there is usually a good market. Coastal bermuda will provide excellent erosion control on slopes that should not be cropped with annuals. Herbicides, such as N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine (glyphosate), can be used to suppress or destroy Coastal should this be required. Results of research and experience supporting the use of Coastal bermudagrass as a rotation crop for the control of rootknot nematodes are summarized here.