**5. Conclusions**

In conclusion, these results show the efficacy of trap cropping for the managemen<sup>t</sup> of the rice RKN phytosanitary problem in most rice-growing areas, especially those with water shortages. In climatic and pedological areas similar to the Lombardy region, the duration of the three trap crop cycles could be just over two months. This technique of decreasing the nematode population density in the soil, therefore, has a much shorter time of action than flooding method (as indicated among the phytosanitary measures reported in Ministerial Decree of 6 July 2017). However, future studies are necessary to establish the most effective number of trap crop cycles that are useful to reduce the presence of *M. graminicola* in the infested soils, maintaining its density below the level that allows the optimal growth of rice plants. Moreover, this technique could be also inserted in integrated pest managemen<sup>t</sup> programs as a low environmental impact agronomic practice, compared to the flooding method, to control this damaging rice pest.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, S.S., G.T., L.M., G.M., B.C., and M.C.; Methodology, G.T., L.M., and G.M.; Software, G.M.; Validation, G.T., G.M., and L.M.; Formal Analysis, G.M. and G.T.; Investigation, S.S., G.T., L.M., A.F., G.M., B.C., and M.C.; Writing—Original Draft Preparation, G.T., L.M., and G.M.; Writing—Review & Editing, G.T., L.M., G.M., M.C., and S.S.; Supervision, M.C., B.C., and P.F.R.; Funding Acquisition, M.C., B.C., and P.F.R. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research received no external funding.

**Informed Consent Statement:** Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

**Data Availability Statement:** The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

**Acknowledgments:** The authors thank Piersandro and Caterina Rossi, the owners of the Cascina Scalina farm for their kind cooperation and Alessandro Cini for helpful statistical analysis. The authors also wish to thank Kathleen Collins Tostanoski for the English revision.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
