Effects of soil characteristics on the relationship between potato cyst nematodes and yield. I. Water retention

Data from five long-term field experiments on sandy and sandy peat soils were analyzed for the effect of soil type on damage caused by potato cyst nematodes to potato crops. It was shown that the water retention of the topsoil and the subsoil largely determined the potential yield level in the different fields. According to Oostenbrink's equation the slopes of the curves are steeper with increasing yield level, indicating that the higher the potential yield level, the higher the absolute yield loss. However, when yield was expressed as percentage of maximum yield, yield reduction related to potato cyst nematode density did not differ significantly, except when tolerant cultivars were grown. Increasing tolerance of cultivars to nematode damage was reflected in less steep slopes of the yield/nematode density curves.