What can we do about nematodes in cotton?

Now that we're getting into cotton harvest and (hopefully) close to the end of the season, it's either time to go pull an end-of-season nematode sample or assess the results of the sample you already pulled. So with that in mind, what if you have a report that looks like this:

📸: BASF employee/Featuring nematode-type assay results.

Do You Have a Nematode Problem?

Notice anything concerning? This is from a field where I have a Stoneville variety trial in Appling County, GA. In Georgia, the typical threshold for root-knot nematodes to begin reducing yield is around 100 nematodes per 100 cc of soil. However, we often see them cause issues at levels lower than that.

📸: @rvimages via Canva

Three Strategies for Combatting Nematodes in Cotton

With RKN numbers roughly twice as high as the historic threshold in this field, we need to make a management decision going into next season on how to handle this problem. There are three main strategies for combatting nematodes in cotton:

1. Implement a crop rotation and move to a new crop
2. Use a nematicide
3. Plant a resistant variety

The main thing to keep in mind with nematode management in cotton is once you close the furrow during planting, all your management decisions have been made. We currently don't have effective in-season options to help with nematodes.

While both rotating to a non-host (peanut) or using a chemical nematicide are good options for handling nematodes, the best option (especially when you want the acre to go to cotton) in my mind is planting a resistant variety. With that being said, let's quickly hit on why.

Why Plant a Resistant Variety?

BASF is launching Axant™ Flex cotton varieties in 2024, and one of the things I'm the most excited about with them is that all Axant™ Flex seed technology for cotton will be resistant to root-knot nematodes. Resistant varieties have native traits bred into them that stop the nematode from feeding and reduce the population in the field. The sample report above was from a susceptible variety. Take a look at this chart comparing the number of nematodes found in the soil sample of that variety to two Axant Flex varieties in the same field:

📸: BASF employee/Featuring root-knot nematode population per 100 cc soil chart.

The simple act of planting a resistant variety completely eliminated the issue! Now, as of today, I haven't picked this field yet, but I feel confident that the yield results will follow this trend.

Axant Flex Cotton: A Game Changer for Nematode Management

Root-knot nematodes are widespread throughout the southeastern cotton belt and offering an entire portfolio of Axant Flex™ cotton seed technology with RKN resistance has the potential to be a game changer. One of the most important things a grower needs is more options, and Axant Flex is just that for combatting and defeating nematodes.

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