Nematodes

Roundworms which live in the soil and/or in plants

Nematodes are the most abundant and diverse group of soil-dwelling organisms.

Parasitic nematodes: many different species of nematode attack specific host plants and feed on them. The beet cyst nematode, for example, is a significant sugar beet pest. Breeding resistant varieties takes time and money and does not always work.

The use of extensive crop rotation with nematode-resistant intercropping has proved to be a successful method of controlling nematodes in sugar beet cultivation.

Pesticides used to control nematodes are known as nematocides.

Free-living, non-parasitic nematodes are very beneficial to the soil. For this reason they are ideal bio-indicators for monitoring and assessing soil quality on agricultural land.