An assessment of fertility and surfactant treatments on the field efficacy and persistence of the nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

The turfgrass industry in the United States has grown at a rapid rate over the past half century, as large tracts of land have been developed to support the ever-growing suburban population. At the same time, public perception of potential negative health risks and environmental impacts associated with pesticides has prompted legislative restrictions on insecticide use. These concerns have motivated many turfgrass managers to consider alternative, non-pesticide management techniques or strategies that are aligned with integrated pest management (IPM). Entomopathogenic nematodes possess a number of characteristics that make them desirable biological alternatives to chemical insecticides. Unfortunately, factors affecting the ability of these nematodes to regulate populations of insect pests and persist in the environment at sufficient levels are not completely understood. In order to move beyond the use of simple inundative release techniques for these nematodes, a greater understanding of the factors influencing nematode establishment and persistence is needed. This research examines how nitrogen fertility inputs and soil surfactants influence nematode persistence and efficacy against white grub pests of turfgrass under field conditions. Results of the first year of this experiment will be discussed.