Studies on the population of soil nematodes in relation to certain chemical and biotic factors of soil

Abstract

A total of 40 soil samples were collected and analysed to study the variations in the population of plant parasitic and non parasitic soil nematodes with reference to the chemical and biotic environments existing in soil. The total population of soil nematodes and the population of non-parasitic forms show a positive correlation with the pH of the soil within a range of 4.5-7.4. The parasite population is not correlated with the pH of the soil. There exists no correlation between the soil nematode population on the one hand and organic matter content , total soluble salts, and fungus and bacterial population of the soil on the other.