Population Dynamics of Belonolaimus longicaudatus and Criconemella ornata and Growth Response of Bermudagrass and Overseeded Grasses on Golf Greens Following Treatment with Nematicides.

Portions of a 'Tifgreen' bermudagrass golf green with poor turf and large numbers of Belonolabnus longicaudatus and Criconemella ornata were treated with selected nematicides in the summers of 1977 and 1978. Improvements in turf quality were observed within 4 wk after treatment with phenamiphos and fensulfothion. Treatment with phenamiphos restulted in lower numbers of B. longicaudatus 4 and 14 wk after treatment in the 1977 experiment and up to 1 yr after treatment in the 1978 experiment. Treatment with fensulfothion reduced the number of B. longicaudatus for only 1 month after treatment and significantly increased the numbers of this nematode in September and March in the 1978 experiment, Negative correlations were obtained between numbers of B. longicaudatus and turf qualily up to 1 yr. Numbers of C. ornata were reduced only in January and June following treatment with phenamiphos and not at any time with fensulfothion. Treatment with fensulfothion resulted in higher numbers of this nematode than in check plots in November and March. The percent area covered by prostrate spurge the following year was reduced following treatment with phenamiphos, but not with fensulfothion.