Application of agricultural wastes in integration with abamectin reduces root-knot nematode infection and presents a promising avenue for sustainable agriculture

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of different agricultural wastes applied singly and in integration with Abamectin (a fermentation product of the bacterium Streptomyces avermitilis) against Meloidogyne incognita infecting eggplant. Of these, plant residues (rice straw, and cucumber and cabbage leaves), compost (plant and mixed) and vermicompost (solid and liquid). Results demonstrated that utilizing organic residues not only contributes to managing nematode populations but also fosters improved plant health by enriching the soil with essential nutrients. Integrated application of agricultural wastes with Abamectin was found to improve the morphological and physiological traits of eggplant infected with M.incognita exhibiting clear synergistic effects on plant growth. The highest increment in plant length was recorded with mixed compost + Abamectin (52.3%), while cucumber leaf residues + Abamectin produced the greatest enhancement in plant fresh weight (161.2%). Combined treatments further enhanced nematode suppression, with mixed compost + Abamectin achieving the highest significant (P < 0.05) population reduction (82.0%). Additionally, dried cabbage leaf residues integrated with Abamectin significantly (P < 0.05) reduced root galling (81.7%) and number of egg masses (90.2%). The present findings revealed that tested agricultural by-products in integration with abamectin serve as natural amendments, boosting the defense mechanisms of eggplants infected with M.incognita and simultaneously promoting key biochemical processes like chlorophyll and carotenoids contents.