CROP ROTATION

HOSTS OF SUGAR BEET CYST NEMATODE:

BROCCOLI MUSTARD
BRUSSELS SPROUTS RAPE
CABBAGE RED BEET
CAULIFLOWER SPINACH
CRESS SUGARBEET
FODDER BEET RUTABAGA
KALE TURNIP
MANGEL  

Crop rotation is effective for management of sugarbeet cyst nematode on sugarbeets because the nematode has a narrow host range. Although most if not all crops on this list are grown in California, only the cole crops and sugarbeets occupy substantial acreage.

In most areas where sugarbeets are grown, profitable nonhost rotation crops such as tomatoes can be grown.

Cole crops are typically grown in cooler areas on higher value land where it is profitable and possible to grow two to three crops per year which makes a crop rotation program less desirable.

This graph of fluctuations of the number of eggs sugarbeet cyst nematode on a series of crops demonstrates how a crop rotation program functions. The graph begins at the harvest of a host crop. As a series of nonhosts are planted such as lettuce and tomatoes, the number of eggs per gram of soil drops.

When cabbage, which is a host, is planted, the number of eggs increases once again. Numbers fall once again under a series of nonhosts such as squash, fallow, lettuce, and beans.

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