HOME SCALE BOTANICAL EXTRACTS FOR PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT
The problems associated with the use of synthetic pesticides are well known today.
Similarly the cost of these chemicals is increasing every year resulting in high cost of porduction and thereby low net profit. In order to minimize the cost of production and also the toxic hazards of chemicals there are some indigenous plants possessing insecticidal properties. The extracts made out of their leaves or seeds or roots have potential to control different insect pests.These plants are locally available and the production techniques of their extracts is given below.
Ipomoea fistulosa (Besharam) leaf decoction -
Ipomoea fistulosa is a perennial plant which is observed almost everywhere and locally known as Besharam. The boiled leaf extract of this plant is found toxic to insect pests. The cotton growers from Vidarbha are using the leaf decoction of this plant for management of cotton bollworms. Our KVK has decided to take the trials of the same with certain concentrations against different pests, The KVK has conducted the OFT on farmer’s field against diamond back moth of cabbage. In this trial 1.5 per cent of leaf extract (leaf decoction) was tried against DBM in 12 replications and the results obtained are quite encouraging as Incidence of diamond back moth was only 2-3% as against 11-12 % in chemically treated plots. Thus the technology is spreading quickly among the neighboring farmers and all the vegetables, pulses and fruit growers are inquiring about the production of Ipomoea leaf extract for pest management.
Target pests -
Cotton bollworms
Helicoverpa
Spodopters
Dimond Back Moth
Hairy caterpillrs
Semiloopers
Home scale production technique-
1 kg green leaves of ipomoea( Besharam)
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Crush and boil in 10 lit of water till the volume
becomes 5 litres
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Again add 0.5 kg crushed leaves of Ipomoea in
the same solution
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Boil till the final volume becomes 2.5 litres
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Cool the solution and filter through the rough cloth
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Make the final volume 200 litres before spraying
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Add an appropriate emulsifier @.5ml/lit before
field application
Mundulea suberosa (Supli) leaf extract (1%) -
Mundulea suberosa is a shrub which is mostly observed in hilly areas. It is locally known as supli.The leaf extract of this plant is having insecticidal, fungicidal and anti-bacterial properties. The small and marginal farmers in Akole Tehsil of Ahmednagar district are being continuously using leaf extract of this plant for pest and disease management but no standardization of this extract was made. After intervention made by the KVK ,trials of different concentrations were conducted and then it has been standardized. 1% green leaf extract of this plant has been recommended for pest and disease management
Target pests and diseases-
Thrips,
Aphids
Mites
Beetles and weevils
Fungal and bacterial diseases
Home scale production technique-
1 kg green leaves of Mundulea suberosa (Supli)
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Crush the leaves and tie the the pulp in muslin cloth
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Add this muslin cloth with pulp in 5 litters of water
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Next day morning squeeze the extract
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Collect the extract in bucket
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Final volume is made 100 liters by adding water
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Add an appropriate emulsifier @.5ml/lit before field application
Custard apple seed extract (3%) -
The seeds of custard contain anonaine as a constituent which is having an insecticidal proprty. The aqueous extract of the seeds of custard apple can be easily prepared and used against various insect pests.If seeds are not available the leaves can also be utilized
Target pests -
Shoot and fruit borers
Cotton bollworms
Pod borers
Hairy caterpillrs
Semiloopers
Home scale production technique-
3 kg seeds of custard apple
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Crush the seeds and tie the the powder in
muslin cloth
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Add this muslin cloth with pulp in 10 litters of
water
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Next day morning squeeze the extract
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Collect the extract in bucket
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Final volume is made 100 liters by adding water
↓
Add an appropriate emulsifier @.5ml/lit before
field application
Neem seed kernel suspension(5%) -
Neem has a diverse biological effect on insects. It has a antifeedant ,repellent, oviposition deterrent action and also works as insect growth regulator. The ripened fruits which have fallen to the ground are used for preparation of the extract. Similarly fruits can also be harvesteddirectly from the twigs containing yellow fruits.
Target pests -
Spodoptera
Helicoverpa
Leaf folders
Semiloopers
Sucking pests
Home scale production technique-
Take 5 kg of dried neem seed kernels and soak
them in small quantity of water
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Grind neem seed kernel and keep the paste in
cloth bag and soak it for 2 hours
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Take 10 litres of water in another container and
keep the bag in it.
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After 12 hours squeeze the bag with neem seed
kernel paste
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Filter the milky white suspension using a thin
cloth and add 50 ml emulsifier
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Add water to this suspension to make 100
litres of spray solution
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Spray the suspension on the crop immediately
after the preparation