Soil Sustainability and Its Effect on Free-Living Nematodes and Okra Plant Health

Abstract

Abstract The study aimed to demonstrate the importance of soil tillage practices on soil structure and the density and distribution of free-living nematodes and their impact on the health and quality of soil planted with okra plants. This in order to develop a possible success of a sustainable agricultural system to prevent plant diseases and support plant health. The experiment was conducted in the field for the 2021 growing season after plowing and leveling the soil and divided into furrows, irrigated, and left for 6 months to stabilize and sustain the soil. Then the furrows for the treatments (organic fertilizer, chemical fertilizer, and combination of both) were plowed to a depth of 30 cm while the control furrows were left unplowed. Okra seeds were planted at 30 cm spacing, three furrows (replicates) for each treatment. During and at the end of the season, growth, yield, and plant health indicators based on nematodes diversity and population were measured. It was found that no-tillage led to significantly higher values of plant height, total fruit weight, leaf content of chlorophyll and nitrogen, and exhibiting higher numbers of free living nematodes, which showed significant differences in their populations over time period between the two seasons. A significant increase in all indicators under study were recorded in organic fertilizer treatments compared to the control treatment. Most plant growth indicators showed strong correlation with the number of free-living nematodes, especially at the end of the season.