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POSTERS: Nematology II

P-426 - Does cover crop type drive differences in Pratylenchus neglectus populations in eastern Oregon’s dryland cropping systems?

Tuesday, August 5, 2025
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM HST
Location: Exhibit Hall 3
Abstract Text:

The Resilient Dryland Farming Alliance (RDFA) seeks to provide Pacific Northwest dryland wheat growers with the information necessary to make data-driven decisions for replacing traditional fallow with cover crops (CCs). CCs have been shown to improve soil health in various agronomic systems, but specific impacts on root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus neglectus in our region are unknown. P. neglectus is one of two species of root-lesion nematodes found commonly in the semiarid Pacific Northwest’s rainfed cereal crops. To address this, we conducted a short-term field experiment in eastern Oregon at a moderate-rainfall Umatilla County site (406 mm yr-1) and a low-rainfall Morrow County site (230 mm yr-1). Each site has nine CC treatments, consisting of three fall-planted CCs and six spring-planted CCs with a chemical fallow control. P. neglectus was quantified following one-year crop rotations in 2021 and 2022. In 2021, more P. neglectus were observed at the low rainfall site after purple-top turnip compared to other CCs and fallow. However, in 2022, more P. neglectus were observed after the fall mix and winter-lentil CCs than after the other CCs and fallow. No differences were observed at the moderate-rainfall site. More nematodes were observed at the low-rainfall site for both years. The results indicate that precipitation may be a stronger driver than the treatments alone. Longer-term studies are needed to better understand the effects of CCs on P. neglectus populations in dryland systems.