IMPACT OF PALM OIL MILL EFFLUENT (POME) ON THE POPULATIONS OF RHIZOBIUM AND MELOIDOGYNE SPECIES IN AWKA, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The impact of palm oil mill effluent (POME) on the populations of Rhizobium and Meloidogyne species was tested at the Teaching and Research Farm of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria. Three cowpea cultivars ,Dan Kano, Borno local and Sokoto local were used as target crops on plots that received 0l/ha(control),4000l/ha,6000l/ha and 8000l/ha levels of POME applications. The treatments combinations were randomized within each block and replicated three times. Generally, increasing level of POME application increased number of functional root nodules in all the cultivars, but decreased length of roots and number of non- functional nodules. Nematode populations drastically decreased with increase in POME quantities. Both Rhizobium and Meloidogyne species compete for establishment sites on cowpea roots and high POME rates decreased Nematode population which is why all the three cowpea cultivars had their highest yields at 8000l/ha POME application rate. So POME, an organic waste from oil palm processing can be used at up to 8000l/ha to effectively control obnoxious root knot nematode and enrich soil for crop cultivation especially Sokoto local cowpea cultivar.