Divide the field into sampling blocks of not more than 5 acres each that are representative of cropping history, crop injury, or soil texture. Contact your farm advisor to help you find a laboratory for extracting and identifying nematodes, and for help in interpreting sample results. Cultural Practices . Plow under infested plants after harvest to prevent further reproduction of nematodes. Reduce stress on plants by proper fertilization and irrigation.
Solarization can also reduce populations of soilborne fungi pathogens and weed seed.
Crop Rotation . Crop rotation is not very effective against root knot nematodes due to their wide host range. Strawberries may be a suitable rotation crop in fields in which the species of root knot nematode has been identified. They are nonhosts to M. incognita and most populations of M. javanica, but allow reproduction of M. hapla. Rotation will not be effective against needle nematodes in the Imperial Valley, because their host range includes most crops grown in the Valley.