Effect of green manure on nematode populations in onion production

Abstract

Allium cepa L. (Asparagales: Amaryllidaceae) is an essential crop for human nutrition. Besides its nutritional properties, it holds an important place due to its immune-boosting effects. The effect of green manure treatments with three biofumigant plant species for controlling plant-parasitic nematodes, which cause economic losses in onion production, has been investigated. Forage turnip, Brassica rapa L. (Brassicales: Brassicaceae), brown mustard, Brassica juncea (L.) Hook.f. & Thomson (Brassicales: Brassicaceae) and common vetch, Vicia sativa L. (Fabales: Fabaceae) were grown before onion production and incorporated into the soil in May-June in the study undertaken in a grower field in Karaman Province in 2021-2024. Total plant-parasitic nematode numbers were between 0-270.9 nematodes/100 g dry soil in green manure treatments. Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kühn, 1857) Filipjev, 1936 (Rhabditida: Anguinidae) (35%), Pratylenchus spp. Filipjev, 1936 (Rhabditida: Pratylenchidae) (29%), Heterodera spp. Schmidt, 1871 (Rhabditida: Heteroderidae) (3%), Paratylenchus spp. Micoletzky, 1922 (Rhabditida: Tylenchulidae) (22%), Geocenamus spp. Thorne & Malek, 1968 (Rhabditida: Dolicodoridae) (8%) and Helicotylenchus spp. Steiner, 1945 (Rhabditida: Hoplolaimidae) (3%) were the plant parasitic nematodes. The most abundant plant parasitic nematodes were Ditylenchus dipsaci and Pratylenchus spp. Nematode populations did not differ by green manure treatments while they were affected by precipitation and varied among growing years.

Keywords

• Biofumigation
• cultural management
• green manure
• plant parasitic nematodes
• population development

Soğan yetiştiriciliğinde yeşil gübrelemenin nematod popülasyonları üzerindeki etkisi

Öz

Allium cepa L. (Asparagales: Amaryllidaceae) insan beslenmesinde vazgeçilmez ürünlerden birdir. Besleyici özelliklerinin yanında bağışıklığı destekleyici etkileri nedeniyle önemli bir yere sahiptir. Soğan üretiminde ekonomik kayıplara neden olan bitki paraziti nematodların kontrolü için biyofumigasyon etkinliği bulunan üç bitki türü ile yeşil gübreleme uygulamalarının etkinliği araştırılmıştır. Karaman İli’nde üretici tarlasında 2021-2024 yıllarında yapılan çalışmada soğan üretimi öncesi yem şalgamı, Brassica rapa L. (Brassicales: Brassicaceae), kahverengi hardal, Brassica juncea (L.) Hook.f. & Thomson (Brassicales: Brassicaceae) ve adi fiğ, Vicia sativa L. (Fabales: Fabaceae) bitkileri yetiştirilerek Mayıs-Haziran ayında toprağa karıştırılmıştır. Yapılan çalışmalarda toplam bitki paraziti nematod sayıları 0-270.9 nematod/ 100 g kuru toprak olarak elde edilmiştir. Tespit edilen bitki paraziti nematodlar; Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kühn, 1857) Filipjev, 1936 (Rhabditida: Anguinidae) (%35), Pratylenchus spp. Filipjev, 1936 (Rhabditida: Pratylenchidae) (%29), Heterodera spp. Schmidt, 1871 (Rhabditida: Heteroderidae) (%3), Paratylenchus spp. Micoletzky, 1922 (Rhabditida: Tylenchulidae) (%19), Geocenamus spp. Thorne & Malek, 1968 (Rhabditida: Dolicodoridae) (%2) ve Helicotylenchus spp. Steiner, 1945 (Rhabditida: Hoplolaimidae) (%3) olup; en baskın nematod türleri ise Ditylenchus dipsaci ve Pratylenchus spp. olarak belirlenmiştir. Nematod popülasyonları yeşil gübre uygulamalarına göre farklılık göstermezken, yağış miktarından önemli oranda etkilenmiş ve yıllara göre değişiklik göstermiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Biyofumigasyon
• kültürel mücadele
• yeşil gübre
• bitki paraziti nematodlar
• popülasyon gelişimi

Kaynakça

1. Abd-Elgawad, M. M. M. & T. H. Askary, 2015. “Impact of Phytonematodes on Agriculture Economy, 3-49”. In: Biocontrol Agents of Phytonematodes (Eds. T. H. Askary & P. R. P. Martinelli). CAB International, UK, Wallingford, 455 pp.
2. Anonymous, 2019. Bitki Hastalıkları Standart İlaç Deneme Metodları, Toprak Kökenli Patojenler, Nematodlar ve Yabancı Otlara Karşı Solarizasyon Uygulaması İle Kombine Edilen Pestisitlere Ait Standart İlaç Deneme Metodu, Bitki Sağlığı Araştırmaları Daire Başkanlığı Yayınları. 146-150. (in Turkish)
3. Asghar, W. & R. Kataoka, 2022. Green Manure incorporation accelerates enzyme activity, plant growth and changes in the fungal community of soil. Archives of Microbiology, 204 (1): 1-10.
4. Behmand, T., E. B. Kasapoğlu Uludamar & H. E. Elekçioğlu, 2022. Development of an in vivo bioassay to identify Turkish chickpea genotypes resistance to Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kühn, 1857) (Tylenchida: Anguinidae). Turkish Journal of Entomology, 46 (1): 89-98.
5. Belair, G. & J. Coulombe, 2009. Green manure and biofumigation for root lesion nematode and Verticillium wilt management in strawberry production. Journal of Nematology, 41 (4): 309-309.
6. Bohinc, T., S. G. Ban, D. Ban & S. Trdan, 2012. Glucosinolates in Plant Protection Strategies: A Review, Archives of Biological Sciences, 64 (3): 821-828.
7. Bristol, D., H. Kamrul, C. B. Joseph & N. N. Uffe, 2023. Responses of nematode abundances to increased and reduced rainfall under field conditions: A meta-analysis. Ecosphere, 14 (1): e4364 (1-10).
8. Dutta, T. K., M. R. Khan & V. Phani, 2019. Plant-parasitic nematode management via biofumigation using brassica and non-brassica plants: Current status and future prospects. Current Plant Biology, 17 (2019): 17-32.

9. Fan, F., W. van der Werf, D. Makowski, J. R. Lamichhane, W. Huang, C. Li, C. Zhang, W. F. Cong & F. Zhang, 2021. Cover crops promote primary crop yield in china: A meta-regression of factors affecting yield gain. Field Crops Research, 271 (2021): 108237 (1-11).
10. FAO, 2025. World onion production statistics. (Web page: https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL) (Data accessed: October 2025).
11. Fatemy, S. & A. Sepideh, 2016. Adverse effects of brassica green manures on encysted eggs, infective second-stage juveniles and the reproduction of Globodera rostochiensis. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 123 (5): 225-233.
12. Fıçıcı, G., 2018. Ön Bitki Olarak Yetiştirilen Kahverengi Hardalın (Brassica juncea L.) Sanayi Domatesi Üretiminde Verim ve Kalite Özelliklerine Etkisi. Ege Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Yüksek Lisans Tezi, İzmir. 47 s. (in Turkish with abstract in English)
13. Ga´mez-Virue´s, S., G. M. Gurr, A. Raman & H. I. Nicol, 2010. Plant diversity and habitat structure affect tree growth, herbivory and natural enemies in shelterbelts. Basic Applied Ecology, 11 (6): 542-549.
14. GBIF, 2026. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. (Web page: https://www.gbif.org/) (Data accessed: March 2026).
15. Genç Kesimci, T., 2022. “Toprak Kaynaklı Fungal Hastalıklarla Mücadelede Yeşil Gübreleme, 231-270”. In: Yeşil Gübreleme. (Eds. M. A. Özyazıcı & Ö. Ü. S. Açıkbaş). İksad Yayınevi, Ankara 297s. (in Turkish)
16. Hallmann, J. & S. A. Subbotin, 2018. “Methods for Extraction, Processing and Detection of Plant and Soil Nematodes, 87-119”. In: Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Subtropical and Tropical Agriculture (Eds. R. A. Sikora, D. Coyne, J. Hallmann & P. Timper). 3rd Edition, CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK, 852 pp.
17. Hu, Y., J. Shi, F. Qiang, C. Liu & N. Ai, 2025. Characteristics of soil nematode communities in pure Populus hopeiensis forests in the Loess Hilly Region and their responses to precipitation. Agronomy, 15 (6): 1341 (1-15).
18. Huang, K., Q. Jiang, L. Liu, S. Zhang, C. Liu & H. Chen, 2020. Exploring the key microbial changes in the rhizosphere that affect the occurrence of tobacco root-knot nematodes. AMB Express, 10 (2020): 72 (1-11).
19. Iderawumi, A. M. & T. O. Kamal, 2022. Green manure for agricultural sustainability and improvement of soil fertility. Indian Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 7 (1): 1-8.
20. Jian, J., B. J. Lester, X. Du, M. S. Reiter & R. D. A. Stewart, 2020. Calculator to quantify cover crop effects on soil health and productivity. Soil Tillage Resources, 199 (2020): 104575 (1-8).
21. JMP, 2025. Statistics. (Web page: https://www.jmp.com/en_us/home.html) (Data accessed: 13.08.2025).
22. Khan, F., M. Shariq, M. Asif, T. Ansari, S. Fatima, A. Khan, M. Ikram & M. A. Siddiqui, 2022. “Organic Nematicides: A Green Technique and Its Overview for Nematode Pest Management, 39-66”. In: Sustainable Management of Nematodes in Agriculture, Vol. 1: Organic Management (Eds. K. K. Chaudhary & M. K. Meghvansi). Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, 440 pp.
23. Kruger, D. H. M., J. C. Fourie & A. P. Malan, 2013. Cover crops with biofumigation properties for the suppression of plant parasitic nematodes: A review. South African Journal for Enology and Viticulture, 34 (2): 287-295.
24. Landesman, W. J., A. M. Treonis & J. Dighton, 2011. Effects of a one-year rainfall manipulation on soil nematode abundances and community composition. Pedobiologia, 54 (2): 87-91.
25. Li, Y., J. Guo, X. Wang, T. Lian, R. Yuan, J. Feng, C. Zhao, R. Miao & Y. Liu, 2025. Precipitation addition during growing and non-growing seasons interactively affects the abundance of soil nematode communities in a semi-arid steppe. Catena, 249 (2025): 108686 (1-12).
26. Liu, X., S. E. Hannula, X. Li, M. P. Hundscheid, P. J. Klein Gunnewiek, A. Clocchiatti, W. Ding & W. de Boer, 2021. Decomposing cover crops modify root associated microbiome composition and disease tolerance of cash crop seedlings. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 160 (2021): 108343 (1-11).
27. Lopes, E. A., R. Dallemole-Giaretta, W. S. Neves, D. F. Parreira & P. A. Ferreira, 2019. “Eco-friendly Approaches to the Management of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes, 167-186”. In: Plant Health Under Biotic Stress (Eds. R. A. Ansari & I. Mahmood). Springer Nature, Singapore, 231 pp.
28. Lopez-Perez, J. A., T. Roubtsova, M. C. Garcia & A. Ploeg, 2010. The potential of five winter-grown crops to reduce root-knot nematode damage and increase yield of tomato. Journal of Nematology, 42 (2): 120-127.
29. McLeod, R. & C. Steel, 1999. Effects of brassica-leaf green manures and crops on activity and reproduction of Meloidogyne javanica. Nematology, 1 (6): 613-624.
30. Mitiku, M., 2018. Plant-parasitic nematodes and their management: a review. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 8 (1): 34-42.
31. Monfort, W. S., A. S. Csinos, J. Desaeger, K. Seebold, T. M. Webster & J. C. Diaz-Perez, 2007. Evaluating Brassica species as an alternative control measure for root-knot nematode (M. incognita) in Georgia vegetable plasticulture. Crop Protection, 26 (9): 1359-1368.
32. Moreira, X., L. Abdala-Roberts, S. Rasmann, B. Castagneyrol & K. A. Mooney, 2016. Plant diversity effects on insect herbivores and their natural enemies: current thinking, recent findings, and future directions. Current Opinion on Insect Science, 14 (April 2016): 1-7.
33. Musa, N. B., 2022. Management of The Stem and Bulb Nematode (Ditylenchus spp.) in Winter Beans (Vicia faba L) Using Biofumigant Brassica spp. and Other Allelopathic Cover Crops. Harper Adams University, (Unpublished) Ph.D. Thesis, Newport, UK., 204 pp.
34. Nivelle, E., J. Verzeaux, H. Habbib, Y. Kuzyakov, G. Decocq, D. Roger & T. Tetu, 2016. Functional response of soil microbial communities to tillage, cover crops and nitrogen fertilization. Applied Soil Ecology, 108 (2016): 147-155.
35. Özel, A. & R. Acar, 2023. Yeşil gübre ve kaba yem amacıyla yetiştirilen ikinci ürün baklagil yem bitkilerinin kendinden sonraki yulafın verim ve bazı kalite özelliklerine etkisi. Türk Tarım ve Doğa Bilimleri Dergisi, 10 (2): 241-252. (in Turkish with abstract in English)
36. Panasiuk, O. & D. D. Bills, 1984. Cyanide Content of Sorghum Sprouts. Journal of Food Science, 49 (3): 791-793.
37. Pott, L. P., T. J. C. Amado, R. A. Schwalbert, F. H. Gebert, G. B. Reimche, L. Z. Pes & I. A. Ciampitti, 2021. Effect of hairy vetch cover crop on maize nitrogen supply and productivity at varying yield environments in Southern Brazil. The Science of the Total Environment. 759 (2021): 144313 (1-9).
38. Prajapati, S. K., P. Dayal, V. Kumar & A. Gairola, 2023. Green manuring: A sustainable path to improve soil health and fertility. AgriSustain-An International Journal, 1 (2): 24-33.
39. Rasa, K., T. Pennanen, K. Peltoniemi, S. Velmala, H. Fritze, J. Kaseva, J. Joona & R. Uusitalo, 2021. Pulp and paper mill sludges decrease soil erodibility. Journal of Environmental Quality, 50 (1): 172-84.
40. Riga, E., 2011. The effects of Brassica green manures on plant parasitic and free living nematodes used in combination with reduced rates of synthetic nematicides. Journal of Nematology, 43 (2): 119-21
41. Salahin, N., M. K. Alam, M. M. Islam, L. Naher & N. M. Majid, 2013. Effects of green manure crops and tillage practice on maize and rice yields and soil properties. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 7 (12): 1901-1911.
42. Sasanelli, N., A. Konrat, V. Migunova, I. Toderas, E. Lurcu-Straistaru, S. Rusu, A. Bivol, C. Amdoni & P. Veronico, 2021. Review on control methods against plant parasitic nematodes applied in Southern member states (C Zone) of the European Union. Agriculture, 11 (7): 602 (1-19).
43. Seinhorst, J. W., 1960. Over het bepalen van door aaltjes veroorzaakte opbrengstvermindering bij cultuur gewassen. Meded. Landbouwhogesch. Opzoekingsstn. Staat Gent, 25 (1): 25-39. (in Dutch with abstract in English)
44. Sitapara, K. D., Y. D. Pawar & P. A. Sable, 2024. Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield and Quality of Green Onion. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports, 30 (12): 116-123.
45. Thoden, T. C., G. W. Korthals & A. J. Termorshuizen, 2011. Organic amendments and their influences on plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes: a promising method for nematode management. Nematology, 13 (2): 133-153.
46. Vetter, J., 2000. Plant cyanogenic glycosides. Toxicon, 38 (1): 11-36.
47. Waisen, P., Z. Cheng, B. S. Sipes, J. De Frank, S. P. Marahatta & K. H. Wang, 2020. Effects of biofumigant crop termination methods on suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes. Applied Soil Ecology, 154 (2020): 103595 (1-7).
48. Xie, Z. J., Y. Q. He, S. X. Tu, C. X. Xu, G. R. Liu & H. M. Wang, 2017. Chinese milk vetch improves plant growth, development and 15N recovery in the rice-based rotation system of south China. Scientific Reports, 7 (2017): 3577 (1-11).
49. Yang, H., J. Niu, J. Tao, Y. Gu, C. Zhang & S. She, 2016. The impacts of different green manure on soil microbial communities and crop health. Preprints, 2016090056 (1-12).
50. Yavuzaslanoglu, E., 2019. Resistance and Tolerance of Commercial Onion Cultivars to Stem and Bulb Nematode, Ditylenchus dipsaci. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 25 (4): 409-416.
51. Yavuzaslanoglu, E., Ö. Ateş Sönmezoglu, N. Genc, Z. Akar & B. Terzi, 2018. Molecular characterization of Ditylenchus dipsaci on onion in Turkey. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 151 (1): 195-200.
52. Yeates, G. W., T. D. E. Bongers, R. G. M. Goede, D. W. Freckman & S. S. Georgieva, 1993. Feeding habits in soil nematode families and genera–an outline for soil ecologists. Journal of Nematology, 25 (3): 315-331.