Plant parasitic nematodes are one of the major factors limiting agricultural productivity world-wide, and in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Recently, nematicides used to control plant nematodes have been reported to affect human health and pollute the environment. This study investigated the control of plant parasitic nematodes using chitin formulation in palm oil plantations in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Plant parasitic nematodes were first isolated and identified from the rhizhosphere of  palm plantation. Experiments were then conducted on the control of the plant parasitic nematodes using formulation consisting of chitin, neem, urea and carbofuran. The result showed that the plant parasitic nematodes were dominated by Rotylenchus buxophilus and Xiphinema diversicaudatum. The Rotylenchus buxophilus population was suppressed by chitin formulation 250gr to 46.8 nematodes, carbofuran 150gr to 55.8 nematodes and to 116 nematodes by formulation without chitin and carbofuran. The Xiphinema diversicaudatum population was reduced by chitin formulation 250gr to 44.6, by carbofuran 150gr to 53.2 nematodes and to a mean of 112.2 nematodes by formulation without chitin and carbofuran.  The results indiacte that chitin formulation could supress plant parasitic nematode population. The treament could increase the population of microbes that are antagonist to plant parasitic nematodes.

Key words

Rotylenchus buxophilus, Xiphinema diversicaudatum, chitin, oil palm, rhizhosphere, South Sumatra

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