What are nematodes in the soil? Fighting them

Every year more and more people start to grow vegetables and fruits on their own plot. To yield a rich crop, plants need to provide proper care. One of the most common pests that pose a very big danger to the garden are nematodes in the soil. Fighting them (the photo of the consequences of these pests look very intimidating) can be based on the use of different methods, however, regardless of them, it is very important to detect these parasites in time. Otherwise, nematodes can lead to complete destruction of plants, as well as cause huge damage to human health and pets.

general information

Before you figure out how to deal with these parasites, you need to talk about how the nematodes look, photos in the soil which can not be confused with any other pest.

There are approximately thirty varieties of nematodes, which can be divided into three categories:

• Affecting plants;
• Dangerous for animals;
• Representing a threat to people.

This article will deal with nematodes that attack plants. Food for these pests is the juice of plants, so their growth and development are significantly slowed down. If you do not start the fight against nematodes in time, then the plant will simply die. Give an idea of how the nematodes look, photos in the soil. How to deal with these pests, every farmer should know. It is necessary to have an idea of the main methods of prevention.

Description of external signs of nematodes

Nematodes are worms with a length of one to two millimeters. Female and male individuals differ in appearance from one another in size. The former have a slightly longer length. The shape of the body of the worms can be round, oval or oblong, reminiscent of the thread.

Nematodes in the soil (the fight against them can be very diverse) are of white and beige color. Worms have a well developed muscular system and a protective shell, which has a high density. The head of worms is very small, has movable lips, with which pests feed.

Nematodes reproduce by laying eggs of white color, which can have a round or oval shape. Larvae outwardly do not look like adults, they have a white head and a transparent body.

Nematodes, photos in the soil of which look very disgusting, have a well-developed sense of touch, thanks to the fact that their body is completely covered with tentacles. Pests prefer a dry and warm microclimate, which is ideal for breeding and laying eggs.

Nematode species

Before we begin to consider the basic methods of combating these pests, it is necessary to understand what their varieties are. In addition to the main classification of nematodes in the soil (the struggle with them is a very difficult task), eating plants, there are the following types:

• Leaf;
• Cauline leaves;
• Root.

It is important to understand that any kind of these worms is a danger absolutely for all plants. They can affect both garden and garden crops, as well as indoor plants. The vital activity of all nematodes is exactly the same, but there are some external differences, as well as habitat preferences.

Leaf nematode

This species of worm grows to only 1 millimeter, and the body has the form of filaments and beige color. They live on the leaves of plants, which they feed on. Leaf nematode is the most common parasite in our region, which can cause enormous damage to any plants.

How can I find out about the appearance of a leaf nematode in the garden?

The appearance of a nematode in the soil on the plot (the struggle with them causes a lot of trouble to many gardeners) is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• The foliage loses its normal color and becomes covered with brown spots;
• Leaves begin to twist;
• Petioles increase in size;
• The plant begins to grow poorly and bear fruit;
• Buds in the flowering period are covered with brown spots;
• Glossy spots appear on the lower part of the leaves, which then turn brown.

If you do not start the pest control in time, then the plant will gradually dry up and eventually rot away completely. In this case, the solution of this problem should be approached in a comprehensive manner, because nematodes in the soil (fighting them very difficult) are able to tolerate any frosts and the next year they will devour other plants.

Favorite treats of leaf nematodes

As mentioned earlier, these parasitic worms can affect absolutely any species of the flora, but most often they attack the following plants:

• Strawberry;
• chrysanthemum;
• Room fern;
• orchid;
• Money Tree;
• aster;
• dahlia;
• Cloves.

Therefore, if you are engaged in the cultivation of these plants, it is very important to carry out certain preventive measures in advance to protect them from the nematode. They will be discussed a little later.

The stem nematode

The stem nematodes in the soil of indoor plants are very common, which many florists face. This species of worm grows to a length of one millimeter. Strikes stems, leaves and flowers of the plant, getting on them through the rhizome.

The presence of these pests can be recognized by the following manifestations:

• Plant growth slows down;
• The thickness of the stem increases, the color of which dims;
• Blossoming buds very quickly wither and fall off;
• In the absence of any measures to control pests, the flower dies.

Stem nematodes prefer moisture, but despite this they are able to survive for a fairly long period of time under any climatic conditions. Most often, the worms of this variety are parasitic on vegetable crops.

Root nematode

The root nematode has the largest body size, which has a yellow or brown color and can reach a length of 2 millimeters, so distinguishing it from other varieties is very simple. This pest is the greatest danger for plants, as it affects its root system. In this case, the plant completely stops growing, and also gradually withers, until eventually it does not die.

What is the danger of nematodes for plants?

Before discussing how to get rid of the nematode in the soil, you need to talk about the dangers posed by these pests to the flora. Devouring plants, worms, along with the juice, draws out of them all the nutritious elements. In addition, the products of vital activity of these pests are very strong toxins that poison plants that lose their normal form and color, stop growing and develop, and also bring much less harvest.

The whole complexity of the fight against nematodes is that their presence is very difficult to detect in a timely manner. With the naked eye, this is impossible because of the too small size. Leaves and cauline worms can be seen only through a magnifying glass, and the root worms live in the ground, so you will have to dig a plant. The root system in this case will be covered with brown seals.

It is worth noting that, because of the toxic substances released by nematodes, burns and irritations can appear on the skin, therefore, when combating worms, one should always wear long-sleeved clothing and gloves.

Methods of pest control

Every farmer and gardener is interested in the question of how to deal with the nematode in the soil. This process is rather difficult, so if the plant is severely damaged, to prevent the spread of parasites to neighboring cultures, it is better to discard it.

The most effective means

Beginning gardeners have never heard of fulmination, which is the most effective method of controlling pests. What is soil fumigation against nematodes? This treatment of plants and soil with special poisonous substances and their vapors. Buy chemicals can be in any store for gardening. Experienced farmers recommend using "Nefamos", "Dimetoat" or "Vidat", which spray plants. To make them more effective, chemical treatment of crops is best done on a clear, quiet day. If the plant was affected by root nematodes, the chemicals are diluted with water and poured into the root system. It is worth noting that these funds kill only adult worms, so spraying is recommended to be performed several times so that the larvae also die.

Other methods of combating worms

An alternative to chemicals are biological agents. They are absolutely safe for plants and people, since they do not contain any toxins in their composition. One of the most potent drugs of this group is Nematofagin. When using it, the dosage indicated by the manufacturer should be strictly adhered to. Otherwise, the plant can burn and die. If you are interested in the question of how to treat the soil from the nematode with minimal harm to the plant, then biological agents will be the optimal solution for saving plants from pests.

When fighting worms that eat up the rhizome, you can also use heat treatment. For this, the plant is excavated, the damaged parts of its root system are cut off, after which the rhizome is immersed for 5 minutes in water, heated to 50 degrees. However, it is important to understand that if the worms managed to hit most of the root system, then this method may be useless, since when removing the greater part of the rhizome the plant may not survive.

After the heat treatment is completed, the plant is planted in a new location. To ensure that it has normalized and was able to recover, a small amount of antinematode preparation is recommended to be added to the bottom of the well. After planting the soil should be loosened up. This is necessary in order to provide the root system with a sufficient supply of oxygen. This method is suitable for controlling nematodes of any variety, but in the case of leafy and stem worms, thermal processing of leaves and stems is performed. In this case, plant transplantation is also mandatory.

Preventive actions

So, the most effective means of nematode in soil are chemical preparations, however they are very toxic, therefore their use can bring both benefit and harm. Therefore, than to fight with pests, it is better to try to prevent their appearance.

To do this, carry out the following preventive measures:

• Regularly fight with weeds;
• In time, remove the fallen leaves;
• Remove yellow foliage from plants;
• Perform periodic plant transplantation;
• Regularly flush the earth;
• Carefully choose the planting material;
• Do not water the plants with too much water;
• Every autumn dig in the backyard.

Adhering to these simple tips and recommendations, it is possible to prevent the appearance of not only the nematode, but also many other pests.

Conclusion

If, nevertheless, the plant was affected by worms and it is not subject to restoration, then it should be burned. If this is not done, the worms will spread to other plants, which can also die. It is very important to detect pests in time, because they have a high reproductive capacity. Therefore, if you want your garden to be always in order and give a good harvest, watch it at any time of the year.