The effect of rates and decomposition periods of sawdust and fruit peels on the incidence of root-knot nematodes meloidogyne species on okra Abelmoschus esculentus

Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne species, are important pests of horticultural crops which often cause devastating effect of yield quantity and quality (Babatola, 1981; Sasser, 1990; Widii and Trivedi, 1990). The use of pesticides for the control of these pests has bee very effective (Ogunfowora, 1978) but often result in environmental and ecological hazards due to their systemic action in vegetable crops with relatively short shelve-life (Babatola, 1981).
The efficacy of cakes, husks, cassava peels and animal wastes on the control of plant parasitic nematodes of vegetanle crops have been reported (Alam et l., 1977); Aktar el al, 1990; Babatola, 1990; Egunjobi and Ekundare, 1981; Saifullah et al, 199)). However, therefore this investigation was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of rates and decomposition periods of sawdust and fruit peels on the control of Meloidogyne incognita infestation on okra (Abelmoshcus esculentus L. Moench).