Effects of Eichhornia crassipes Aqueous Extract and Organic Manure on Root Gall Severity in Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) in Togo

Abstract

Plant-parasitic nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne represent a major constraint to beetroot production in Togo. This study, conducted at the Agronomic Experimental Station of the University of Lomé, aimed to evaluate the combined effectiveness of organic manure and aqueous extracts of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in nematode management and yield improvement. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design with nine treatments and three replications, In this experiment, the main plot factor consisted of three organic manure application rates (0, 10, and 15 t/ha), while the subplot factor consisted of three formulations: Furadan, aqueous extract from the aerial parts of water hyacinth, and aqueous extract from the submerged parts of water hyacinth..Results showed that organic manure and aqueous extracts enhanced nematode control and promoted plant growth. The combination of 15 t/ha organic manure with Furadan reduced soil nematode density by 60.69%. In roots, the greatest reduction (65.03%) was obtained with 15 t/ha manure combined with the submerged-part extract, lowering the mean nematode population to 5.01 individuals. This treatment also produced the highest root yield (54.25 t/ha). The lowest gall index (1.93) was recorded under the same treatment, corresponding to a 69.56% reduction in infestation compared with Furadan alone. These findings suggest that the integration of organic manure with water hyacinth extract, particularly the submerged-part extract, may serve as an effective alternative approach for nematode management in beetroot production.