Now is a great time of year to begin planning your summer garden and to take preventative measures against future nematode problems in your vegetable plantings. Use plant varieties that are resistant to nematodes. In addition, a soil high in organic matter will usually have fewer nematode problems than an inorganic sandy soil. Poultry offal, fish scales, and shrimp shells make a wonderful soil amendment when properly composted. In addition, these organic amendments will inhibit the build-up of nematode populations by encouraging the growth of chitin loving bacteria in the soil.
Chitin makes up the skin of nematodes and the exoskeleton of insects, shrimp, and many arthropods.
Fish scales are also composed of chitin. High levels of chitin loving bacteria will reduce nematode populations by literally dissolving them away. Home Page Updated Feb, 2001.