Authors : I. Umar and S.Y. Simon
Abstract: The effects of four-soil amendments (groundnut cake, neem cake, castor cake and NPK) and ploughing against plant parasitic nematodes in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) CV IAR 48 were investigated between 2003 and 2004. The experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria between the month of August and October 2003 and 2004. The experimental plot was ploughed at normal (20 cm) and deep (60 cm), leveled and demarcated into subplots measuring 2�2 m2 with 1 m alleys in a complete randomized block design. The treatments were oil seed cakes of neem (Azadirachta indica), groundnut (Arachis hypogea) and castor (Ricinus communis) applied at 120 kg ha 1, N.P.K. (20.10.10) as urea at 90 kg N ha 1, single super phosphate 45 kg P ha 1 and murate of potash, 45 kg K ha 1 were incorporated into the field before planting cowpea seeds. The untreated control received no treatment. There were 5 treatments and 3 replications. The oil cakes were incorporated into the soil 4 weeks to allow the proper decomposition before seed of cowpea variety IAR-48 were planted into the subplots. NPK (20:10:10) was applied as basal application at planting. The result of the investigation indicated that soils amended with neem cake gave better nematode control. Also the 60 cm depth of ploughing gave lower population of plant parasitic nematodes than the unamended control plots.
I. Umar and S.Y. Simon , 2008. The Effect of Oil Seed Cakes and Ploughing Against Plant Parasitic Nematodes on Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp). Agricultural Journal, 3: 349-352.