Non-Chemical Management of Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.) and Senna (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.)

Experiments were conducted for the management of root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita using non chemicals under controlled and field conditions in medicinal crops viz., ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and senna (Cassia angustifolia). All the treatments comprising of bioagents, organic amendments and humic acid evaluated were effective to suppress M. incognita population and to increase the plant biomass and yield of economic parts of these crops. Among the treatments, the use of plant growth promoting rhizobcaterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens available commercially in talc formulation (2.6 × 106 cfu g−1) at 2.5 kg ha−1 as soil application recorded the lowest nematode population accompanied with highest economic yield.