Control measures

The control of nematodes in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is divided into various systems described below.

Agricultural practices

· Ploughing the soil in the summer and subjecting the nematode to desiccation and starvation;

· Organic manuring of soil to encourage natural enemies of nematodes (a very common practice);

· Crop rotation (not very effective with resistant crops);

· Solarization by covering the soil with plastic during the hot summer after irrigation and ploughing (also very common).

Chemical methods

Chemicals are the most commonly used treatment to control nematodes, although they can be dangerous to users and expensive. The chemicals used are:

· methyl bromide (gas) in greenhouses and plastic houses where preplanting treatment is carried out;

· Nemacur (G), as pre- and postplanting treatment on vegetables and established orchards;

· Vydate (G) is widely used as pre- and postplanting treatment;

· other chemicals have been used such as DBCP, Vagan and Tenekil, but they were abandoned internationally.

There is a public concern about the intensive use of chemicals because of their effects on human health, so most crops, especially vegetables, grown in chemically treated soils are not in high demand by consumers. Also it was found from chemical analysis of vegetables that the levels of these chemicals are higher than the tolerance limit for human consumption.

The number of specialists involved and institutions engaged in the programme are not sufficient to tackle the nematode problems in a country like the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya with its large land area and wide cropping diversity.

In addition, full public or government awareness of the importance of these serious pests in agriculture is lacking. The country requires all the support and help it can get to reduce the potential damage from nematodes, especially when they interact with other pests and diseases.