Use Of Trichoderma Harzianum And Plant Materials For The Control Of Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne Sp.) On Cowpea

ABSTRACT

Screen house and Microplot experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of Trichoderma harzianurn, Ageratum conyzo ides, Manihot esculentus alone and in combination on the control of Root knot nernatode on cowpea (Ife brown). The experiments were laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 8 treatments namely Trichoderma harzianum, Age ratum conyzo ides leaf powder, Manihot esculentus peels, T. harzianum + A. conyzoides leaf powder, T. harzianum + M esculentus peels, carbofuran, nematode alone and control (No nernatode, No treatment). The treatments were replicated 5 times. A. conyzoides leaf powder and M esculenius peels were applied at the rate of 25g each while T. harzianurn and Carbofuran were applied at the rate of 20m1s and 3.Og ai per plant respectively. Data collected include number of leaves per plant, fresh root weight(g), fresh shoot weight(g), dry shoot weight(g), number of pods, weight of pods (g), number of nodules, nematode population in soil and root, and number of galls. The result of the screen house experiment showed that Trichoderma harzianum compared favourably with the Carbofuran while from the microplot, Trichoderma harzianum alone and a combination of A. conyzoides and Trichodema harzianum compared favourably with the nematicide. These treatments significantly increased yield (P