KEEPING UP WITH NEEM:

Non Pesticidal Management of Pigeonpea Pests

• Neem Seed Kernel Extract (NSKE): Farmers have been used to spraying NSKE which acts as a ovi-positional deterrent. The leaves and other parts of the plants sprayed with the extract repel the larvae from feeding, resulting in death due to starvation.

• Preparation of Extract: Take 3 to 7 kg of neem seed and pound it gently. The powder obtained will be taken in muslin cloth and tied to get a pouch, which is allowed to soak in 50 to 80 L of water for over night. The pouch is thoroughly squeezed for four to five times to get the extract into water. 50 gms to 100 gms of detergent is added to the extract to get milky white NSKE.

Farmers adopt the following practices to ensure the access and efficacy of the extract:

• Collect the neem fruits during bearing season.
• Do not use the seeds over eight months of age. The seeds stored over the above this age lose their activity and hence not fit for NSKE preparation.
• Spray the extract after 3.30 p.m. to get effective results.

Table 2:
Non Pesticidal Management Options - follow - up dates for Pigeon pea in India

Option Approximate date of practicing in the field

Deep Summer Ploughing 2nd week of April - 2nd week of May

Sowing, Neem cake application, 2nd week of June - 1st week of July
Biodiversity maintenance

Castor and Marigold planting 1st week of July - 3rd week of August

Installation of Pheromone traps & 3rd week of September - 1st week of October
birds perches

Cow dung + Urine sprays 1st week of September - 2nd week of October
(when eggs were traced in the field)

Jaggery solution spray Last week of August - End of September
(early larval stages)

Neem oil spray 3rd week of October - 1st week of November

Chilly + Garlic extract 2nd fortnight October - 1st fortnight November

Shaking Last fortnight of September - End of November

Manual collection and destruction 3rd & 4th weeks of December
of larvae
V. Murali et. al.,

Source: Agrobios, Vol. III No. 1, June 2005
A Model Organic Paddy Field in Tamil Nadu

Mode of Manure Application:
Vermicompost was applied @ 1 ton/acre in the main field as a basal dose. 100 kg of groundnut oil cake & 50 kg of neem cake were well powdered and applied to this field twice on 20th day and 40th day from the date of transplantation. During application of manures, the excess water was drained which led to sustainable use of nutrients. After 10 days of transplantation 2 kg Azospirilum mixed with 20 kg of vermicompost was applied to the paddy field, which increased the nitrogen fixation. The rice husk was mixed with hot water and boiled for sterilization to incorporate. The biocure (B) containing pseudomonas fluorescents was thoroughly mixed with carrier i.e., the rice husk and was kept in gunny bag with optimum moisture. After 4 days the contents were mixed thoroughly and stored upto 12 days. The contents turned into white colour, the correct stage for usage in the field.

The above mentioned contents were applied to the field after forty days of transplantation.

Plant Protection Through Foliar Sprays:
1. For fungal protection neem seed 5%, cow urine 3% and Aegle marmilos (Vilvam) leaf - 3% were allowed to ferment overnight and then it was sprayed over the paddy field.
2. Panjakavyam (2%) - Panjakavyam is a mixture of cow dung, cow urine, curd, ghee and milk. Panjakavyam was sprayed on 15th day and the second dose was sprayed one month before harvesting.
3. Growth regulator - 13 ltrs of water + 1 ltr tender coconut water. The solution was sprayed during the emergence of the grains.
4. 1 kg of garlic (Alliumcepa) 1/4 kg of vasambu (Acorus) and 1/2 kg of athimathuram were powdered and mixed with 100 litres of water. This was kept for three days and then sprayed (after 30th day transplantation).

Total Expenditure: Production of Organic Rice
Particulars Rs / Acre
Seed (25 kg) 350
Ploughing 1,500
Vermicompost (one ton) 2,000
Ground nut oil cake (100 kg) 900
Neem cake (50 kg) 400
Weeding-20 members @ Rs. 30 600
Harvesting 1,200
Azospirillum 80
Miscellaneous 387
Total Rs. 7,417

Total Output During the Organic Agriculture

Grain yield 15,000
Straw yield 1,500
Total Rs.: 16,500
Expenditure Rs.: 7,417
Profit Rs.: 9,083

Source: G.S. Vijayalakshmi et. al.,
Agrobios, Vol. III No. 1, June 2005



Organic Farming in Cashew

Phyto-products: Natural as well as proprietary botanical insecticides is good biological weapons. Neem oil 3-5%, Karanj (Pongamia) oil 2% and neem seed kernel extract 1% are some of the botanical preparations effective against common pests. Kerosene emulsion and fish oil rosin soap may also be tried. Commercial neem formulations available in the market may be used instead of neem derivatives. While using botanicals, emulsifiers (soap-water/ bar soap, 0.5% or teepol, 0.1 - 0.2%) should be used in the spray fluid. Spraying in evening hours is suggested. While spraying, follow all the precautions.

Major Pests: The following recommendations (Mahapatro and Mini, 2005) can be followed for the control of specific pests in organic way.

Tea Mosquito Bug (TMB):

1. Spray either neem oil 3-5% or Pongamia oil 2% during flushing, flowering and fruiting phases. Add teepol/soap. Repeated sprayings at fortnightly intervals may be required in specific situations such as heavy infestations or young plantations.

2. Trees which harbour large populations of ants (Oecophylla smargdina), being natural enemy of TMB and other pests can provide protection.

In Australia, it is reported to be viable technology even in commercial scale (Peng et al., 1995, 1997) and latest in 2004, introduced in Vietnam also (Peng, personal communication). Since cashew is entomophily, ants can act as pollinators. However, care should be taken while encouraging ants, as they also help in spreading mealy bugs and scales.

3. It is frequently observed that dieback is associated with TMB. To manage this TMB-bug complex, Bordeaux mixture (1%) or Copper oxychlolride(0.2 - 0.3%) may be sprayed as prophylaxis. The affected plant-parts are to be removed (Kerala Agricultural University, 2002).

Cashew Stem and Root Borers (CSRB)

Prophylactic Measures
1. Phyto-sanitary measures such as removal of dead trees & trees at advanced stages of infestation and dead & dried branches of trees, at least once in 6 months, would help in reducing the spread of stem and root borers.

2. Swab mud slurry or neem oil 5% (50 ml neem-oil in 1 litre of water + 5 g of bar soap) on the tree trunk (upto 1.0 m height), thrice in a year, from Sept. onwards, at an interval of two months. Commercial formulations like Limanool, Achook etc. may be used in place of neem-oil.

3. Smearing of lime on bark crevices.

4. Roots should not be left exposed in the field.

5. Application of wood ash (15-20 kg/tree) at the base reduces the pest infestation. The ash ad-mixed with tea waste is applied during July-Aug while manuring the plants. Some farmers claim that use of common salt controls this beetle pest (NRCC, 2004b).

Curative Measures
Early stage of attack can be detected from the chewed wood observed at the base of the tree. This key point is very important in CSRB-control effectively. If the infestation is detected early, the grubs should be mechanically removed by carefully examining the bark. While debarking, care should be taken that it is not more than 50% of the stem girth.

Minor Pests
Minor pests need no specific control measures normally. But when their infestation is severe any of the botanicals recommended for tea mosquito bug such as neem-oil (3-5%), or Pongamia oil (2%) spray can be used for their control. Neem pesticides are very effective against leaf miners than even chemicals. It should be kept in mind that, at times, their infestation might become serious if proper control measures are not taken at the appropriate time.

Local and spot treatments are to be taken for mealy bugs, aphids etc. as they often appear in isolated trees/patches. Neem - garlic emulsion (2%) applied on infested branches checks mealy- bug menance.

A local practice of dusting powdered ash is followed to cashew during flushing period to control sucking pests.

Option Approximate date of practicing in the field

Deep Summer Ploughing                           2nd week of April - 2nd week of May

Sowing, Neem cake application,                2nd week of June - 1st week of July
Biodiversity maintenance

Castor and Marigold planting                     1st week of July - 3rd week of August

Installation of Pheromone traps &             3rd week of September - 1st week of October
birds perches

Cow dung + Urine sprays                           1st week of September - 2nd week of October
(when eggs were traced in the field)

Jaggery solution spray                                Last week of August - End of September
(early larval stages)

Neem oil spray                                            3rd week of October - 1st week of November

Chilly + Garlic extract                                   2nd fortnight October - 1st fortnight November

Shaking                                                        Last fortnight of September - End of November

Manual collection and destruction                3rd & 4th weeks of December

Jose Mathew et. al.,
Source: Agrobios, Vol. III No. 1, June 2005



Neem Cleansing
Removes dye, heavy metals

Researchers from the Gauhati University, Assam, have developed a neem leaf powder (NLP) that acts as a dye remover and also helps get rid of heavy metals such as lead and chromium from solutions. "A small amount (1 gram) of NLP could remove as much as 95% of Congo Red dye and 1.2 g of NLP could remove 93% of lead from aqueous solutions," says Krishna G. Bhattacharyya, the lead researcher.

"The NLP contains fine particles of indefinite shape and size with a large number of steps, pores and kinks on the external surface, which could trap (adsorb) Congo Red molecules," says Arunima Sharma, co-researcher. The findings of their studies were published in the Journal of Environment Management (Vol 71, No 3) and the Journal of Hazardous Materials (Vol 113, Nos 1-3). While Congo Red dye is a complex organic compound, which if ingested is converted to benzidine, a known human carcinogen, lead is toxic for brain cells and chromium for skin and lungs. These substances can be removed with the help of granulated or powdered activated carbon, but their cost works out to be prohibitive and the disposal of the used carbon is often very difficult. To search out a cheaper disposal method, the researchers crushed, washed and dried mature neem leaves and then converted them into a powder, which was further washed and dried before being used as a dye remover.

NLP was then added to a dye solution in a conical flask, which was put in a mechanical shaker and continuously agitated at 27º C. The study found increasing the amount of NLP from 0.2 g to 1.0 g in the solution enhanced dye removal from 35% to 49.9 % for an agitation time of just one hour. For lead, an increase in NLP from 0.2 g to 1.2 g for an agitation time of 20 minutes increased adsorption from 16.1 to 67.7%. In case of chromium, an increase in NLP from 1.6 g to 14 g for a constant agitation time of 3 hours increased adsorption from 89.1 to 100%. "Increase in NLP amount makes a large number of adsorption sites available leading to an increase in metal ion uptake," claims Bhattacharyya in a paper published in Adsorption (Vol 10, No 4).

Source: Down To Earth
Vol. 14, No. June 30, 2005