Nematodes are a serious problem for Missouri cotton growers. The biggest threat is from root-knot nematodes. In 1995, surveys reported medium population densities of root-knot nematodes in Pemiscot, Dunklin, and New Madrid counties. All populations, except root-knot nematodes, were below threshold levels. The best time to take nematode soil samples is in the latter part of the growing season.
Technology is readily available to effectively reduce nematode populations below damaging levels.
Cotton growers continued to curse the root-knot nematode that annually costs them thousands of dollars in lost yields. Farmers have only one strategy in the war against this pest, since nematode-resistant cotton varieties are not available. That strategy is to use nematicides like Temik. Uniform application of Temik, in-furrow at planting in amounts suitable for nematode control, will protect cotton against early season damage by this pest. A problem with this strategy is that nematode populations are not uniformly distributed in infested fields.