The effect of hydraulic agitation on the viability of the nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

Viability was significantly affected (p<0.05) by agitation, replicates, liquid temperature, and interaction between liquid temperature and agitation. The viability decreased 4.3% and 6.4% in the agitated samples at liquid temperatures of 20 and 30 °C, respectively. The sprayer components had no influence, but the agitation reduced viability by 5-6%. The duration of spraying reduced viability as well. No significant differences were found among nozzle sizes, but as they determine the duration of spraying, they also exhibited different ranges of viability decrease with the duration of agitation. The highest viability decrease (24%) was obtained after 95 min of spraying. The main reason for the decrease of nematode viability was the joint effect of agitation stress and increased temperature.