Nematodes and the productivity challenge in sugarcane cultivation

Among the pests in Brazilian agriculture, nematodes are among the most common and impactful. Responsible for significant losses in agricultural production and billion-dollar losses, they can be found in the most diverse crops and directly affect crop productivity.

When we talk specifically about nematodes that affect sugarcane, we can highlight four species:

,

,

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, the latter being the most common. Each of them presents different degrees of infestation and severity of damage to the crop and are responsible for reducing the productivity of sugarcane fields by around 10%, reaching up to 50%.

The pest's symptoms are not easily noticeable during sugarcane development, but irregularities in the crop may indicate the presence of nematodes. If the producer notices a reduction in productivity in his crop, the ideal is for him to collect root and soil samples from the area and send them for analysis in the laboratory to prove his suspicion regarding nematodes.

These parasites are generally already present in the area that will be used for cultivation, so, although the producer cannot prevent them, there are some measures that can help contain the spread of nematodes, such as: good terracing that prevents soil erosion, Be careful when cleaning machinery and using quality seedlings.

When the soil already shows signs of contamination and the objective is to reduce the nematode population, the producer can use chemical nematicides following good application practices. Currently, the Campinas Agronomic Institute (IAC) is looking for nematode-tolerant sugarcane varieties to help farmers reach the full productive potential of sugarcane.