Nematicide influence on cotton yield and plant-parasitic nematodes in conventional and sod-based crop rotation

Plant-parasitic nematodes (Rotylenchulus reniformis (reniform, RN), Helicotylenchus dihystera (spiral), and Mesocriconema ornatum (ring)) and yield were investigated in cotton phases of conventional (peanut–cotton–cotton) and sod-based (bahiagrass–bahiagrass–peanut–cotton) rotations with or without irrigation and fluopyram nematicide at a long-term research site, established in 2000, in Quincy, Florida, USA. Objectives were to determine impacts of nematicide application on cotton yield and evaluate effects of nematicide on plant-parasitic nematodes in these rotations in 2017 and 2018. Reniform nematode population densities were greater in conventional cotton than sod-based cotton. Ring and spiral nematode population densities were greater in sod-based cotton than conventional cotton. Plots receiving nematicide had increased RN population densities in preplant 2018 soil samples and spiral nematode population densities in preplant 2017, harvest 2017, preplant 2018, and harvest 2018 soil samples compared to untreated plots. Cotton seed yield in conventional rotation was increased by 18% following nematicide application in 2017 but decreased by 10% in sod-based rotation in 2018, relative to the untreated control. Sod-based rotation had greater cotton yield than conventional rotation in 2017 and 2018. Nematicide application did not improve cotton yield in sod-based rotation and was inconsistent in conventional rotation.