Effects of crumb rubber waste as a soil conditioner on the nematode assemblage in a turfgrass soil

- The impacts of waste crumb rubber as a soil conditioner on nematode abundance, community structure and soil characteristics were investigated.
- CR amendment significantly decreased numbers of plant parasite nematodes, the most abundant trophic group.
- CR amendment decreased Shannon's diversity index, evenness and plant parasite index of soil nematodes, but increased dominance and maturity index.
- A reduction of 28% in bulk density and an increment of 6% in soil moisture as compared to control were found at 15% CR treatment respectively.