Effect of Yard Waste Compost on Crop Tolerance

The effects of a yard waste compost amendment and crop establishment on nematode populations and yields of suscep­ tible vegetable crops were determined in two tests in Florida in sites infested with the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Main plot treatments consisted of 269 mt/ha of a yard waste com­ post applied as a mulch, 269 mt/ha of the compost incorporated into the soil, and an untreated control. Subplots involved two meth­ ods of crop establishment, transplanted three-week-old seedingsof yellowsquash (Cucurbitapepo, test 1)or okra (Hibiscus esculentus, test 2) and direct seeding. Root-knot nematode population densi­ ties were unaffected by all treatments and increased greatly on both vegetable crops. However, yield of yellow squash was improved 0.05) by incorporation of yard waste compost and by use of transplanted seedlings rather than direct seed. The yield of plots with incorporated compost and transplanting was more than 3.5 times that of direct-seeded, unamended plots. Similar results were obtained on okra. with maximum yields from transplanted seedlings and incorporated compost. Results show the potential of com­ post amendment and planting method for improving the tolerance of susceptiblecrops to damage by root-knot nematodes.