Impact of Organic Amendments on Entomopathogenic Nematodes: An Overview

Healthy soil enhances crop yield. In order to increase the organic matter content of soil for sustainable and healthy soil, organic amendments are applied in the field. Build-up of insect pest populations under organic production system is problematic which not only reduces yield but also lowering crop quality. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies that incorporate cultural management, biological management, use of resistant varieties are viable options for reduction of pest population. Among the biocontrol agents, Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are efficacious against various insect pests in a variety of habitats. However, the effectiveness of EPNs against insect pests is largely dependent on the method of application and nematode survival under field conditions. Cultural management practice such as application of organic amendments can alter the soil health that enables their occurrence and activity. Understanding the interactions is essential to reveal ways to enhance the potential of EPNs as biocontrol agents in a particular soil type, environmental condition and agricultural scenario. This review provides a brief overviews of impact of organic amendments on EPNs from the standpoint of pest management.