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- Trichoderma gamsii as a biological control agent of turfgrass diseasesPublication . Coelho, Luísa; Dionísio, Lídia; Bueno-Pallero, Francisco; Reis, Mário; Duarte, J.; Guerrero, CarlosGolf is a growing and economically important activity in Portugal with direct and indirect incomes respectively over 350 and 1.450 million of euros, corresponding nearly 1.25% of the Gross National Product. The correct maintenance of lawns in a sustainable manner is required. Sport lawns are quite susceptible to soil-borne diseases1 , which cause enormous economic losses, making environmental friendly disease control methods a practice to develop. The increasing interest regarding environment and public health protection have been increased the search for alternatives, leading researchers to seek strategies to reduce the use of synthetic products, such as fertilizers and pesticides2 . Also, the European legislation is directing the reduction of pesticides3 , facing itself towards more sustainable policies.
- Effects of compost application on nematode populations and the yield of a carrot cropPublication . Coelho, Luísa; Reis, Mário; Bueno-Pallero, Francisco; Guerrero, Carlos; Gonçalves, M. A.Composts may be used either in soilless cultivation or applied to soil, increasing its organic matter content and improving the physical, chemical and biological properties. This study evaluated the effects of compost application to the soil cropped with carrot on nematodes diversity, biocontrol of phytopathogenic nematodes and crop yield. A commercial compost (Organical®, TerraFértil, Portugal) was applied to a sandy soil, at the rate of 0, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 t ha-1 and incorporated to a 15 cm depth. A carrot crop (Daucus carota L.) was sown with a density of 62.5 plants m-2. At the end of the growing period, when the longer roots had reached about 15 cm, plant growth and yield were quantified. Compost increased carrot yield. Following harvest, soil samples were collected near the roots (root zone) and randomly at three soil depths: 0 to 15 cm, at 30 cm and at 50 cm. Nematodes species were identified and quantified in these four zones, and the damages observed were ranked. Compost influenced nematode populations. Near the roots beneficial nematode populations increased with the compost rate application. Phytopathogenic nematodes were present mainly in the treatments with less compost. Furthermore, nematode genera were distributed according to soil depth. Bacteriophage/saprophyte nematodes were found mainly at 50 cm depth, at the surface and in the root zone. Plant parasitic nematodes were located near the surface (0-15 cm) and at 50 cm depth. Predator nematodes prevailed near the surface, in the root zone and at 50 cm depth. The lower populations of nematodes were found at 30 cm depth. This work showed that the dynamics of nematode populations in the soil is affected by soil depth and compost dose, suggesting that compost can reduce the population of phytopathogenic nematodes and increase bacteriophage/saprophyte and predator nematode populations.