Multivariate Analysis of Selected Edaphic Factors and Their Relationship to Heterodera glycines Population Density

The influence of selected soil physical and chemical factors on population density of Heterodera glycines was investigated in 1988 and 1989 in two different locations of a soybean (Glycine max) field. Soil variables of a Norfolk loamy sand were measured after planting soybeans susceptible to H. glycines. Cyst and egg populations were determined after harvest. Nematode population density was found to be clustered. Up to 91% of the eggs were parasitized by a sterile fungus. Principal component analysis with orthogonal VARIMAX rotation grouped 12 variables into five uncorrelated factors in 1988 and three in 1989. In 1988, the factor "pH and Mg" was positively correlated (P < 0.001) with cyst and egg population density. Also, the factor "fine texture and Cu" was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with egg population density. In 1989, the factor "pH, Mg and Cu" was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with levels of cysts and percentage of parasitized eggs, but not with total egg number. Across 2 years, factors containing soil pH and Mg were positively associated with cyst nematode population density. Copper appeared to be negatively associated with populations of H. glycines.