DEEPAK KUMAR, VINOD KUMAR*, S. S. MANN AND RUBAL KAMBOJ
Department of Nematology,
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : vinodnagal09@gmail.com)
(Received : 12 February 2022; Accepted : 23 March 2022)
SUMMARY
Forage crops can be defined as those plants which are directly or indirectly consumed by animals while fodders are those plant species which are generally fed to the animals as fresh and storage products viz., hay and silage. The cultivation of forage and fodder crops subjected to various biotic and abiotic constraints. Among the biotic constraints, various insect pests and diseases including plant parasitic nematodes are major limiting factor for cultivation of forage and fodder crops. Several nematodes are responsible for causing serious damage to these crops. However, Meloidogyne spp. has become most important pest and is a serious problem in major forage producing countries of the world. Management of the potential economic damage caused by these tiny organisms to forage crops is generally accomplished by a combination of various factors i.e. host resistance, cultural practices, bio-control agents and to a lesser extent chemical control. The selection of a highly resistant variety is the first line of defense in combating nematodes. Cultural practices can be very effective in preventing the initial spread of the nematodes into new production fields and help in minimizing the damage in established forage crops. Keeping this in mind, the present article is focused on nematodes problems of forage and fodder crops along with their management.
Key words: Cultural practices, forage and fodder crops, Meloidogyne spp., plant parasitic nematodes, Management