Spatial econometric approaches to developing site-specific nematode management strategies in cotton production

Root-knot nematode infestations tend to be spatially clustered within agricultural fields and result in varied crop yield penalties. Site-specific nematode management could provide the opportunity for producers to maximize profit while maintaining acceptable yield and reducing over-use of chemical nematicides. This paper determined the potential for site-specific nematicide application by using spatial econometric analyses of on-farm experimental data to estimate cotton yield response functions with respect to environmental factors and treatment applications. The results suggest that yield response to nematicide application differs by soil texture. Post-treatment of the nematode population at maximum flowering stage and the sand content of soil were significant factors in explaining the variation in yield. When explicitly modeled, the neighboring plot effects affected yield estimates considerably. The results provide practical recommendations for the effective control of nematodes by site-specific management.