Comparison of Four Methods for Isolating Nematodes from Soil Samples

Abstract

Four methods for extracting nematodes from soil samples were investigated, using soils ranging from predominately sand to mostly clay. These were: The Oostenbrink Flotation Apparatus III, a modified Oostenbrink elutriator, a sugar-flotation technique, and a sieving Petri-dish method. It was found that no one method can be regarded as completely satisfactory for all types of soils. The sugar-flotation technique was more effective with sandy soils, while the other three methods were more effective with clay soils. The sugar-flotation technique proved superior to the other methods for recovery of ring nematodes from all the types of soils used.