Whoops! I see where I jumped from controlling wireworms to
nematode-suppressing green manures.
For wireworms, crop rotation is one of the prime
considerations. Wireworms tend to be a problem in root
crops that follow cereal crops and in fields taken out of
pastures, hay fields, and sods. Thus, don't plant a root
crop in such a field until it has grown one or two sequences
of a less-susceptible broadleaf crop, or a broadleaf cover crop
like buckwheat.
For a neat illustration on distribution of wireworm species
in North America, and a summary of life cycles, etc., see
"Potato Health Management" published by APS Press.
In your area of Missouri, it looks like a cross-roads
between three species: Northern Plains (wheat wireworm,
dusky wireworm; Eastern Corn Belt and Northeast (Eastern
field wireworm; the South (Corn wireworm, conodrus
wireworm)
Steve Diver
steved@ncatfyv.uark.edu
> > Does anyone have any experience/info on the use of
> > beneficial nematodes for control of wireworms. This is for
> > 16 acres of organic turnips.