Cucumbers are one of the most pest and disease susceptible vegetable crops and are extremely sensitive to Root Knot Nematodes, Rhizoctonia and Pythium levels. Moderate numbers of each detected on the SARDI DNA tests will cause economic damage and result in severe yield losses and quality downgrades. If Nematodes are detected on a soil test, it is highly recommended that soil fumigation be undertaken prior to planting. Soil fumigation has consistently shown to suppress soil pest and disease levels in cucumbers to below economic damage threshold levels resulting in increased yields and quality of the crop.

Nematodes greatly imped the plant’s ability to take up water and nutrients. Fertiliser is one of the major input costs of vegetable production and is an area that can be improved through improved pest and disease management. Nematodes have the ability in greenhouse situations to breed very quickly with numbers having been seen increasing from 65 to over 22,000 / gram soil in the space of 14 days during spring and summer. This type of population increase can be catastrophic to yield and quality parameters and will require the use of systemic nematicide applications to bring back under control.

To learn more about what soil fumigation can do in your fields contact us at 08 8347 3838 or info@trical.com.au