Uso de torta de nim no manejo de fitonematoides em goiabeiras e implicações na variabilidade espacial da nematofauna e atributos do solo

Abstract

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) farming has a great economic and social importance, especially for the Brazilian semiarid region. Severe damage caused by nematodes parasitism, particularly Meloidogyne enterolobii is reported in orchards across the country, with heavy losses. Neem-based products (Azadirachta indica) have emerged as a sustainable management alternative of these pathogens. The objectives of this study were: (a) evaluate the effects of the neem cake in nematode communities, in the soil microbial activity, soil and plant properties; (b) describe the structure and the composition of nematode communities in guava orchard area recently implemented; (c) to assess variations in the spatial and temporal distributions of plant nematodes and chemical properties of the soil by incorporating the neem cake. The study was conducted in a guava orchard located in a rural settlement in Pernambuco State, Brazil, which was divided into two areas, one of which was applied neem cake treatment. The evaluations were done before treatment, 90 and 180 days after initiation of treatment. Descriptive statistics, covariance and geostatistics was proceeded for nematological data, soil properties and plants nutrition. The results indicated that the neem cake improves soil quality, increasing of organic carbon content, microbial activity and microfauna abundance. Neem cake was effective to control plant parasitic nematode Pratylenchus, however it was not effective against M. enterolobii. The geostatistical analysis revealed that the spherical model fitted for the most of variables studied. Most nematodes not present spatial dependence, featuring pure nugget effect. The contour maps showed that neem cake incorporation increased the variability of soil chemical properties; spatial distribution of essential nutrients for root growth influenced the distribution of plant parasitic nematodes; and the introduction of M. enterolobii in the study area was through infected seedlings.