Management of Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne Javanica Infecting Sunflower by Some Composted Plant or Animal Residues as Soil Amendments in Egypt

Soil amendment with organic composts of plant or animal residues i.e. banana tree (BT), maize stalks (MS), sawdust (SD), rice straw (RS) and cattle dung (CD) at rates 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 % w/w showed significant (P≤ 0.05 and / or 0.01) reduction in numbers of root knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica larvae in soil, galls and egg-masses on roots as well as the nematode build-up as compared to control. All dosages of BT compost were most effective in reducing numbers of the nematode stages, galls, egg masses and the nematode build-up followed by 1.0% of both MS and SD composts. All doses of organic composts significantly (P≤ 0.05 and / or 0.01) increased growth of sunflower cv. Giza 1. and improvement of sunflower cv. Giza 1 growth. Generally, there were positive significant correlations between doses of composts and reduction percentages in number of larvae in soil, galls, egg-masses and rate of build-up, and (r = 0.9884, 1.045, 0.9844 and 0.9677; respectively) as well as increases in sunflower growth parameters in terms of lengths, fresh and dry weights of both shoots and roots (r = 0.9977, 1.0, 1.0, 0.9391, 0.9967 and 1.0; respectively). Also, there were positive significant relationship between shoot dry weight and each of N, P and K uptake by sunflower shoot (r = 0.9876, 1.0 and 0.9445; respectively), between root dry weight and N uptake (r = 1.0).