effect of soil fumigation on white clover growth in a yellow-grey earth infested with clover cyst...

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This article was downloaded by: [Kungliga Tekniska Hogskola] On: 10 October 2014, At: 18:12 Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tnza20 Effect of soil fumigation on white clover growth in a yellow-grey earth infested with clover cyst nematode G.W. Yeates a , G.C. Crouchley b & J.T. Witchalls c a DSIR , Soil Bureau , Lower Hutt b Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries , Masterton c Shell Oil New Zealand Ltd , Wellington , New Zealand Published online: 05 Jan 2012. To cite this article: G.W. Yeates , G.C. Crouchley & J.T. Witchalls (1975) Effect of soil fumigation on white clover growth in a yellow-grey earth infested with clover cyst nematode, New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 18:2, 149-153, DOI: 10.1080/00288233.1975.10421017 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00288233.1975.10421017 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms &

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This article was downloaded by: [Kungliga Tekniska Hogskola]On: 10 October 2014, At: 18:12Publisher: Taylor & FrancisInforma Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registeredoffice: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK

New Zealand Journal of AgriculturalResearchPublication details, including instructions for authors andsubscription information:http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tnza20

Effect of soil fumigation on white clovergrowth in a yellow-grey earth infestedwith clover cyst nematodeG.W. Yeates a , G.C. Crouchley b & J.T. Witchalls ca DSIR , Soil Bureau , Lower Huttb Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries , Mastertonc Shell Oil New Zealand Ltd , Wellington , New ZealandPublished online: 05 Jan 2012.

To cite this article: G.W. Yeates , G.C. Crouchley & J.T. Witchalls (1975) Effect of soil fumigation onwhite clover growth in a yellow-grey earth infested with clover cyst nematode, New Zealand Journalof Agricultural Research, 18:2, 149-153, DOI: 10.1080/00288233.1975.10421017

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00288233.1975.10421017

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE

Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the“Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis,our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as tothe accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinionsand views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors,and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Contentshould not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sourcesof information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims,proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever orhowsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arisingout of the use of the Content.

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Anysubstantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing,systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms &

Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions

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149

Effect of soil fumigation on white clover growth in a yellow-grey earth infested with

clover cyst nematode By G. W. YEATES

Soil Bureau, DSIR, Lower Hutt G. C. CROUCHLEY

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Masterton AND J. T. WITCHALLS

Shell Oil New Zealand Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand

(Received 15 November 1974)

ABSTRACT A field trial to study the effects of soil fumigants on pure swards of 'Grasslands Huia'

white clover growing in a yellow-grey earth infested with clover cyst nematode (Heterodera irijolii) , was run for 18 months. The treatments, replicated four times (24 plots, 2 x 1 m), were: control, methyl bromide, 'DD' soil fumigant at 300 l/ha, 'Nemagon' at 11.23 l/ha. 'Nemagon' at 22.46 l/ha, and 'Mocap' at 67 kg/ha. Twelve harvests were made during the trial and mean yield response to fumigation was 7.6% [-0.2% ('Nemagon' 22.46 I/ha) to 12.3% ('D.D.')]. However, during periods of activity of the clover cyst nematode yields were up to 46% higher in fumigated than in control plots. The effect was enhanced by moisture stress. Fumigation also extended the growing season into the summer drought.

INTRODUCTION The clover cyst nematode (Hete:odera tri/olii

Goffart, 1932) is widespread in New Zealand pastures, but there has been no information published on its effect on clover growth in the field. Yeates (1973) has studied the annual cycle of H. tri/olii in pasture and the present work demonstrates the influence of this popula-tion on clover growth. Glasshouse studies using this population have been reported by Yeates et al. (1973) and Yeates (1974). The latter work demonstrated that in the presence of H. fri/olii substantial additions of superphosphate were required to give the same yield of white clover as that obtained with no added super-phosphate in the absence of nematodes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS The site was on the Ministry of Agriculture

and Fisheries Field Research Area, East Taratahi Road, Masterton (N.Z.M.s. 1, N162, 114554). The area had been in pasture for at least 50 years, but was resown in 1967 with 'Grasslands Ariki' ryegrass, 'Grasslands Apanui' cocks foot,

and 'Grasslands Huia' white clover. Since 1967 it has been topdressed annually with 250-375 kg/ha of superphosphate.

The soil is Kokotau silt loam (a strongly gleyed yellow-grey earth) . Annual rainfall is 624-944 mm (1967-72) and for a third to a half of the year rainfall is inadequate for optimum plant growth. The mean 5 cm soil temperature for October 1972 was 13.2°c (8.5-17.7) and for November 1972 17.2°c (14.0-20.8).

"Quick test" (During 1972) results for 0-7.5 cm soil samples collected from the trial area in early October 1972 were pH 5.6, calcium 8, potash 4, Truog phosphate 5. Although the potash value is low, the Kc value of 0.35 (Metson 1968) does not indicate potential potassium deficiency.

The soil fumigants used were: 'DD' (55% 1,3-dichloropropene and 45% dichloropropane) and 'Nemagon' (95% I, 2-dibromo-3-chloropropane) (Shell Oil New Zealand Ltd.), and 'Mocap', lOG granules (10% a-ethyl S, S-dipropyl phosphoro-dithioate) (Mobil Oil New Zealand Ltd.).

N.Z. Journal of Agricultural Research 18: 149-53

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150 N.Z. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, VOL. 18, 1975

The trial consisted of 6 treatments replicated 4 times, making 24 plots, each 2 X 1 m. The treatments were:

(1) control (2) methyl bromide (3) 'DD' at the rate of 300 l/ha (4) 'Nemagon' at 11.23 l/ha (1 gal./a)

(Nemagon 1) (5) 'Nemagon' at 22.46 I/ha (2 gal./a)

(Nemagon 2) (6) 'Mocap' at 67 kg product/ha (60 lb/a) Stock were excluded from the site throughout

the trial. The site was first rotavated in mid August

1972, and recultivated early in September. In mid September the soil was removed from plots requiring methyl bromide treatment. These plots were dug out to a depth of 15 em and surrounded by a frame of 15 X 2.5 em timber to reduce reinfestation; the frame remained in place throughout the trial. The soil, packed in poly-propylene sacks, was fumigated with methyl bromide in a chamber evacuated to 74 mm Hg before the methyl bromide was added. The treated soil was stored under cover and returned to the plots 1 day before sowing, and 50 I water was added to each plot in an attempt to improve the poor soil structure resulting from drying during storage. On 6 October the 'DD' drench was applied.

On 30 October 1972 a basal dressing of Ca (H2Po.t) 2 equivalent to superphosphate at 375 kg/ha, lime (2500 kg/ha), and molybdenum (0.28 kg sodium molybdate/ha) was applied to all plots. No other fertilisers were added during the trial. On 1 November the 'DD' plots were raked to 10 cm to liberate any residual fumigant, all plots sampled for nematodes and total nitrogen analysis, 'Nemagon' and 'Mocap' treatments applied, and three replicates sown. The fourth replicate was sown the following day. 'Grass-lands Huia' white clover seed (Grasslands C 2478) inoculated with Rhizobium trifolii (strain 7243, Plant Diseases Division) was sown, using precision sowing frames, at 5 cm centres so that 544 points were sown in each 2 X 1 m plot.

Subsequently, routine maintenance, including mowing of grassed buffer strips, was carried out as required to maintain a pure white clover sward. Counts of seedlings were made on 29 November and 20 December 1972. The plots were first cut on 16 January 1973 with hand shears about 2 cm above ground level. Further cuts were taken as required and when the trial was terminated on 30 April 1974 a total of 12 cuts had been made. The harvested clover was

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YEATES et al.: SOIL FUMIGATION AND CLOVER GROWTH 151

dried overnight at 80°c and dry matter production per plot determined. At each harvest white clover roots were collected from adjacent pasture to assess the reproductive status of H. trifolii. Samples for cyst counts of H. trifolii were collected on 10 December 1973 and 30 April 1974.

Regular gravimetric soil moisture measure-ments were made on soil from under an adjacent pasture, and the results are shown in Fig. 1.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The results of the various analyses are given

in Table 1, and Table 2 gives the dry matter yields from harvests 1-12.

At sowing, two of the five fumigant treatments had slightly lower total nitrogen content than control (Table 1). Treatments applied before sowing date (methyl bromide, '~O') had signi-ficantly fewer total nematodes and H. trifolii larvae at sowing (Table 1). On 29 November, when 69% of plants had reached the first trifoliate leaf stage, there were no significant differences in the fresh weight of tops, although survival of clovers was higher in methyl bromide-treated plots than in control plots. By 20 December rain had lead to further germination in all treatments, although 'Mocap' plots had significantly fewer live plants, reinforcing the situation of 29 November. By the first harvest further germination had occurred, but plant counts had become impracticable.

Infestation of the plots by H. trifolii was assessed 13 and 18 months after sowing. In December 1973 all treatments had significantly fewer cysts than control, but at the termination of the trial, after a further reproductive period, variation was greater and the cyst population in 'Nemagon' treatments did not differ significantly from control, although the mean was less than 50% of the control.

Examination of white clover roots collected from adjacent pasture at each harvest showed the following pattern of nematode activity:

16 January 1973 - no infestation 2 April - subfemales and females on

roots 3 May - a few females on roots; end

of autumn reproduction 18 June - no infestation 24 August 1973 - H. trifolii larvae invading

root tips 20 September - no infestation (spring mor-

tality, as in Yeates 1973) 8 October - larvae and subfemales in

roots 29 October - no infestation; spring repro-

duction completed 19 November - no infestation 10 December - no infestation 9 January 1974- no infestation

TABLE 2 - Yield (g DM/plot ± s.e.m. (n = 4)) of white clover from the six treatments at twelve harvests

Means differing significantly from control at the 90% level of confidence are indicated by *, 95 % by * *, and 98% by ***

Harvest date Control Methyl DD Nemagon 1 Nemagon 2 Mocap bromide

16 Jan 73 49 ± 5 32 ± 6* 61 ± 9 74 ± 4*** 61 ± 6 68 ± 8* 2 April 73 49 ± 9 63 ± 7 64 ± 5 67 ± 11 60 ± 8 66 ± 6 3 May 73 71 ± 4 83 ± 7 85 ± 9 83 ± 8 66 ± 5 94 ±. 7**

18 June 73 96 ± 5 108 ± 32 96 ± 10 101± 5 89 ± 9 88 ± 11 24 August 73 219 ± 20 235 ± 13 227 ± 12 210 ± 25 187 ± 19 180 ± 27 20 Sept 73 277 ± 15 309 ± 25 273 ± 24 286 ± 19 247 ± 21 270 ± 20 8 Oct 73 153 ± 6 183 ± 11 186 ± 28 163 ± 12 170 ± 18 178 ± 10

29 Oct 73 290 ± 25 303 ± 29 255 ± 23 275 ± 5 257 ± 18 284 ± 22 19 Nov 73 201 ± 6 243 ± 5*** 246 ± 11*** 222 ± 15 247 ± 11*"· 237 ± 13**

10 Dec 73 169 ± 14 197 ± 12 190 ± 23 185 ± 7 169 ± 16 175 ± 12

9 Jan 74 193 ± 17 195 ± 25 225 ± 27 229 ± 24 195 ± 22 197 ± 29 30 April 74 217 ± 14 235 ± 11 317 ± 16**' 225 ± 6 234 ± 18 296 ± 10''''

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152 N.z. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, VOL. 18, 1975

50

40 ~ g I

Soil 100 hard for sampling

10

w - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ _ ~ M ~ ~ W _'~I~'~'~'~ 1972 1973 1974

Fig. 1 - Soil moisture during the period of the trial with sowing and harvest dates indicated.

30 April - H. trifolii females loosely attached to roots; end of autumn reproduction

This pattern of activity is similar to that reported by Yeates (1973), and in association with soil moisture data (Fig. 1) can be used to interpret clover dry matter yields (Table 2). The first harvest was influenced by the H. trifolii attack which occurs after germination, and yields from 'Nemagon l' and 'Mocap' treatments were significantly better than control. Methyl bromide plots yielded significantly less dry matter than controls: poorer soil structure and paucity of organisms presumably contributed to this. The effects of the autumn nematode invasion became apparent in the yield from 'Mocap' plots on 3 May.

Because further nematode infestation of clover roots occurred in spring, a depression in clover growth would be likely in the harvest of 8 October. However, only methyl bromide was significantly better than control, although yields were 6-21 % better than control, suggesting all treatments had some effect, because on 20 Sep-tember they were ± 11 % compared with control. This lack of significant effect at time of attack is probably due to the high soil moisture content; at all other periods of attack soil moisture was lower (Fig. 1) and the nematode effect on yield was not delayed. The effects of the spring attack were apparent in the harvest of 19 Novemebr when soil moisture was much lower and even the poorest treatment yielded 11 % more than the

untreated controls. It is thought that the better root system of plants in treated plots not subject to attack by H. trifolii were better able to utilise the declining supply of soil moisture and thus extend the growing season into a drier period. An extension of pasture growth at this time of the year would be most beneficial in fat lamb production.

The effects of the autumn invasion were again apparent in the significant improvements of yields of the 'DD' and 'Mocap' treatments at 30 April 1974 (cf. 3 May 1973). On this date all treat-ments were 4-46% better than control whereas at the previous harvest, which did not follow nematode activity, the improvement was only 1-19%.

The cumulative yields with percentage change compared with control for the 12 harvests are:

g/plot % change 'DD' 2225 + 12.3 methyl bromide 2206 + 11.3 'Mocap' 2132 + 7.6 Mean of five fumigant

treatments 2132 + 7.6 'Nemagon'l 2122 + 7.0 Control 1982 'Nemagon' 2 1978 0.2

These differences in total dry matter yield over 18 months do not differ significantly. However, as soil fumigation has been shown to improve yield in periods of nematode activity, and as

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YEATES et al.: SOIL FUMIGATION AND CLOVER GROWTH 153

fumigation extended the growing season into the summer drought, this trial has demonstrated a significant nematode effect in the field. In a mixed pasture this effect could be enhanced by competition from grasses. Yeates (1974) showed in the greenhouse that H. trifolii reduced the yield of pure white clover by 24%, but the reduction in yield of white clover grown with ryegrass was 50%.

CONCLUSION In pure swards of white clover a range of soil

fumigants improved yield by up to 12.3%, times of responses coinciding with the activity of the clover cyst nematode (H. trifolii). The effects were greater at times of moisture stress. Such an effect would also be increased when the clover was growing in competitive conditions in pasture, and thus further field trials are warranted to investigate the economics of controlling H. trifolii, which is widespread in New Zealand pastures.

Acknowledgments Assistance with this work has been given by Dr D.

J. Ross, Mrs J. Cunningham, Miss M. E. Dutch, Miss B. A. McNeilly, Messrs M. Fisher, P. Lawrey,

1. Oakenfull, J. A. Small, and in particular by Miss Diana Gabric and Mr M. Gray. Methyl bromide treatment of the soil was carried out by Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Fumigation Station, Wellington.

REFERENCES During, C. 1972: Fertilisers and soils in New Zealand

farming. N.Z. Department of Agriculture Bulletin 409 2nd ed.: 312 p.

Metson, A. J. 1968: Potassium. In "Soils of New Zealand", pp. 82-95. N.Z. Soil Bureau Bulletin 26(2): 221 p.

Widdowson, J. P.; Yeates, G. W.; Healy, W. B. 1973: The effect of root nematodes on the utilisation of phosphorus by white clover on a yellow-brown loam. N.Z. Journal of Agricultural Research 16: 77-80.

Yeates, G. W. 1973: Annual cycle of root nematodes on white clover in pasture. I. Heterodera trifolii in a yellow-grey earth. N.Z. Journal of Agricultural Research 16: 569-74.

1974: Effects of Heterodera trifolii on the growth of clover in a yellow-grey earth under greenhouse conditions. Ibid. 17: 379-85.

Yeates, G. W.; Healy, W. B.; Widdowson, J. P. 1973: Screening of legume varieties for resistance to the root nematodes Heterodera trifolii and Meloidogyne hapla. Ibid. 16: 81-6.

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