Nematode Feeding Types in Different Soil Habitats and Subsequent Study in Maize Field

Three experiments were conducted to find out the feeding type and age structure of nematodes in different soil habitats; to know the efficiency of different extraction techniques of nematodes and to observe the hatching behavior of Meloidogyne juvenile in a Baermann device. Bacterivore, Omnivore, Predator, Fungivore and Plant Parasitic nematodes were recorded in the soil of flower, vegetable, moss, grass, and corn and compost habitats. Bacterivore was the highest feeder (67.5%) in the soil habitats. In comparison of nematode extraction methods, Seinhorst method extracted more cysts (188), but less juvenile (34) and eggs (18) from cysts than stirring (145, 87 and 50, respectively) while AZC was found superior (936) over Cobb method (204) in extracting nematodes. The AZC method also extracted huge juvenile number from roots which was higher than Baermann funnel method. In Baermann funnel, juvenile hatched more in favorable condition than unfavorable condition which led to an increasing and decreasing pattern of hatching.