The capability of legumes to fix and provide sufficient nitrogen for crop
production has encouraged re-appraisal of cropping systems that utilize relevant
forage legumes. However, plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) can damage forage
legumes but differently according to forage legume production systems. Therefore,
this study determined the population levels of PPN associated with three different
production systems. Different species of forage legumes were planted in fallow soil
and into living grass sod of two species; 'Pensacola' bahia grass and 'Tif-81'
bermuda grass. Thirteen genera of PPN were associated with one or more cultivars
of twelve forage legumes in one or more of three locations in Alachua County near
Gainesville, Florida, USA. No significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) was found in the
nematode population levels among clover cultivars overseeded in dormant bahia
grass or bermuda grass sod. However, when clover cultivars were planted in fallow
plots, significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) occurred in population levels of Meloidogyne
spp. Also, significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) occurred in populations of Meloidogyne
spp. and Criconemella spp. among the three experiments.