Neem as a botanical pesticides: November 2011

Chemical free farming is not just a trend: It's the wave of the future. As long as health conscious folks are willing to pay more for organic fruits and vegetables, dedicated growers throughout the world will strive to meet ever-increasing demands.

Warning: Crop Pests Are Developing A Resistance To Chemical Pesticides

Over 500 species of pests have developed a resistance to a pesticide. [1] To combat increasing resistance, commercial farmers worldwide have started to apply more products, combine pesticides, or seek more toxic replacements. Many classes of synthetic pesticides exist throughout the world. The main classes include organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids. Such pesticides are widely known to cause acute or chronic effects in humans and animals, especially in the reproductive, endocrine, and central nervous systems. [2]

It's time to stop the madness! Mother nature provides us with safe, nontoxic tools that don't "expire" or become less relevant through the ages.

Some of the Best and Worst Organic Pesticides and Pest Management Methods

Organic doesn't always mean "safe." The following pesticides are all permitted in organic farming, but not all of them are truly safe for humans, animals and the environment.

1.) Cedar Oil: THUMBS UP

ADVANTAGES: Quick kill, very low toxicity, residual effects up to a month, won't pollute soil or ground water

The popularity of cedar oil has exploded in recent years, but it's actually a very ancient method of pest control. Our pioneering forefathers blanketed their cabins with cedar needles to repel a wide variety of pests. The Egyptians used papaya leaves soaked in cedar oil in the mummification of their dead. Even today, Texas cattle fences are built with cedar posts, which naturally resist decay and pest infestation for 50 years or more. At the forefront of the cedar oil movement is a product marketed at WholesalePesticides.com. In tests ordered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the formula was tested against 29 other natural and chemical formulas and ranked number one. The outdoor version of this product is strong enough to battle crop pests on commercial farms yet safe enough to rid neighborhood yards of mosquitoes. In a press release, leading U.S.D.A. scientists proclaimed that this formula represents an historic breakthrough in the control of nematodes and crop pests.

2) Neem: THUMBS UP

Advantages: Slow Kill, Growth Inhibition, Low Toxicity, Residual Effects Up To Ten Days

Neem is a botanical pesticide extracted from the neem tree, a native of India. It is not highly toxic to animals, and it doesn't kill insects immediately. It works as an insect growth regulator. The treated insect usually can't molt to its next life stage. Neem can also deter egg laying. Neem has been used for more than 4,000 years for medicinal and pest control purposes in India and Africa. [3]

3.) Pyrethrum/Pyrethrins: THUMBS DOWN

With names like pyrethrum, pyrethrin and peremethrin, it's easy to be confused.

Pyrethrin is one of two liquid esters derived from Pyrethrum (feverfew). Pyrethrum is a similar insecticide derived from and chrysanthemum flowers. Permethrin is a SYNTHETIC version of pyrethrin. In other words, it is a man-made poison that is a copy of two poisons found in plants. [4]

Whatever the case, THE ONLY WORD TO REMEMBER IS NO. For a very long time, it was thought that these compounds were relatively harmless to animals. A growing body of evidence suggests otherwise. In an investigation conducted by ABC World News, traditional spot drop flea and tick medicines were found to cause more than 44,000 severe reactions in a single year, including seizures and multiple deaths. According to an EPA survey of poison control centers, pyrethroids cause more insecticide poisoning incidents than any other type of pesticides except for organophosphates.

SOME SIDE EFFECTS OF PYRETHROIDS [4]

Inhalation: coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, runny or stuffy nose, chest pain, or difficulty breathing.

Skin contact: rash, itching, or blisters.

Long term effects: disrupts the endocrine system by mimicking the female hormone, estrogen, thus causing excessive estrogen levels in females. In human males, its estrogenizing (feminizing) effects include lowered sperm counts. In both, it can lead to the abnormal growth of breast tissue, leading to development of breasts in males and cancerous breast tissue in both male and females.

Neurotoxic effects include: tremors, incoordination, elevated body temperature, increased aggressive behavior, and disruption of learning. Laboratory tests suggest that permethrin is more acutely toxic to children than to adults.

Other: A known carcinogen. There is evidence that pyrethroids harm the thyroid gland. Causes chromosomal damage in hamsters and mice; deformities in amphibians; blood abnormalities in birds. [4]

4.) Nicotine Sulfate: THUMBS DOWN

Nicotine sulfate carries a DANGER warning. It's readily absorbed through the skin, which makes it one of the most toxic botanical pesticides to warm-blooded animals. As a tobacco extract, it's one of the oldest botanical insecticides in use today. It kills insects by interfering with the transmitter substance between nerves and muscles. [3]

5.) Sabadilla: NOT BAD

Sabadilla is a botanical insecticide derived from the seeds of the sabadilla lily. It is considered among the least toxic of botanical insecticides, but its dust can be irritating to the nose and eyes. No residue is left after application of sabadilla because it breaks down rapidly in the sunlight. [3] Therefore, the residual effects aren't as powerful as neem or cedar oil.

6.) Rotenone: THUMBS DOWN

Rotenone is like a wolf in sheep's clothing. It doesn't pose a great risk to humans and animals, but it's extremely toxic to fish. The EPA approves of using Rotenone in cases where "fish management" is desired; however, everyday farmers who aren't seeking to control fish populations should be aware that It gets into ground water and seeps into local lakes and rivers. Random "fish management" is not a good thing.

7.) Companion Farming: THUMBS WAY UP!

Companion farming is the cultivation of certain kinds of plants in the same area, especially if one species will benefit from another. For example, planting garlic among tomatoes will help control aphids. Consult the following list of insects to see which plants will repel them. [5]

Ants

* Pennyroyal
* Spearmint
* Southernwood
* Tansy.

Aphids

* Anise
* Chives
* Coriander
* Garlic
* Nasturtium
* Pennyroyal
* Petunia
* Spearmint
* Southernwood
* Tansy

Cabbage Maggot

* Hemp
* Mint
* Tomato
* Rosemary
* Sage.

Cabbage Moth

* Catnip
* Celery
* Hemp
* Hyssop
* Nasturtium
* Rosemary
* Sage
* Southernwood
* Thyme
* Wormwood

Carrot Fly

* Black salsify
* Coriander
* Rosemary
* Sage
* Salsify
* Wormwood.

Cinch Bug

*Soybean

Colorado Potato Beetle

* Dead nettle
* Flax
* Green beans
* Horseradish

Cucumber Beetle

* Radish
* Tansy

Japanese Beetle

* Garlic
* Pelargonium geraniums
* Larkspur, Rue
* Tansy

Leafhopper

* Pelargonium geraniums
* Petunia.

Mexican Bean Beetle

* Marigold
* Petunia
* Potato
* Rosemary
* Summer Savory.

Plum Curculio

Plum curculio

* Garlic

Rose Chafer

* Pelargonium geraniums
* Onion
* Petunia.

Squash Bug

* Nasturtium
* Petunia.

Striped Pumpkin Beetle

* Nasturtium

Whitefly

* Marigold
* Nasturtium
* Nicandra (Peruvian Ground Cherry.)

Wireworm

*White Mustard

Moths And Larvae

Cutworm

* Tansy

Fruit Tree Moth

* Southernwood

Tomato hornworm

* Borage
* Marigold
* Opal Basil

Parasites

Eelworm

* French & African Marigold

Mites

* Chives
* Garlic
* Onion

Nematode

* Asparagus
* Dahlia
* Calendula, French & African Marigold, Salvis

Slugs & Snails

* Prostrate Rosemary
* Wormwood

Just Say NO to the Most Common Pesticides Used In Commercial Farming!

Organochlorines: DDT, Toxaphene, Dieldrin, Aldrin

Organophosphates: Diazinon, Glyphosate, Malathion

Carbamates: Carbofuran, Aldicarb, Carbaryl

Pyrethroids: Fenpropanthrin, Deltamethrin, Cypermethrin

Bibliography

[1] grapes.msu.edu. How pesticide resistance develops. Excerpt from:
Larry Gut, Annemiek Schilder, Rufus Isaacs and Patricia McManus. Fruit
Crop Ecology and Management, Chapter 2: "Managing the Community of
Pests and Beneficials."

[2] http://www.bt.ucsd.edu/synthetic_pesticide.html

[3] http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4dmg/VegFruit/organic.htm (Some Pesticides Permitted in Organic Gardening. Laura Pickett Pottorff, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension horticulturist and plant pathologist.)

[4] http://www.anapsid.org/pyrethroids.html (Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection, ©2000 Melissa Kaplan)

[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_repellent_plants

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Effectiveness of Some Botanical Insecticides against Spodoptera ...

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Botanical insecticides Pyrethrum; Neem; plant essential oils.

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Botanical Insecticides in the Home Garden

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Growth inhibiting effect of Neem, Sweet flag and Turmeric extracts ...

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Botanical pesticides: a part of sustainable agriculture in Babati ...

Botanical Pesticides And Their Toxicological Study

Botanical Pesticides

Chemical pesticides constitute serious environmental hazards. Application hazards and residual toxicity to human beings are noticed and documented. Emergence of pesticide resistant races in pest populations, destruction of predators and parasites, which exercise a natural check in the pest population, also include the environmental hazards. Chemical pesticides also destruct beneficial insects and other animal species. In view of this pesticide of plant origin provides an excellent alternative for protecting crops from insects pests.

Azadirachtin Formulations

Azadirachtin is a complex tetranotriterpenoid obtained from the seed kernels of neem tree i.e. Azadirachta indica. This complex chemical has proved as the most important plant ingredient for integrated pest management at the present time. This has the ability to disturb and inhibit development of eggs, larvae and pupae. It blocks the molting of larvae and nymphs (blocks metamorphosis), disturb mating and sexual communication, repel larvae and adults, sterilize adults and deter feeding. This neem based botanical pesticide is available in five formulations with concentration of 300 PPM , 1500 PPM 3000 PPM 10,000 PPM and 50,000 PPM of Azadirachtin. These formulations are ideally suited for organic farming and control most agriculturally important pests in the orders Lepidotera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Homoptera, Orthoptera and Heteroptera.

Ozoneem Trisul, an Azadirachtin preparation containing 10000ppm marketed by GKFC is very effective in controlling coconut Eriophyid mite (Aceria guerreronis). A spray of Ozoneem Trisul @ 4ml/ltr of water on infected inflorescence bunches controls the mite population very effectively. This evaluation of Ozoneem Trisul against coconut Eriophyid mite was carried out by net work unit of All India Net work project on Agricultural Acarology during 2004-05.

Neem Oil

Cold Pressed

Neem Oil is obtained from the kernel of the neem fruits. This is extracted by cold pressing method without heating or using any chemicals to retain all the ingredients in the oil, some of which would otherwise be destroyed. Neem oil is the alternative to chemical pesticides and contains Azadirachtin a tetranotriterpenoid a compound that displays insecticidal properties. Neem oil is non-toxic, biodegradable, and environment friendly insect repellent. This anti feedant stops sucking and eating of leaves by insects. It also reduces laying and hatching of eggs by insects. Other than in agriculture, neem oil has other uses in medicine, public health care, cosmetic and veterinary applications. This has a shelf life of more than two years in room temperature. It is packed in 180 Kg HDPE /MS containers and can be packed in any required pack size.

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Neem Based Botanical pesticides And their Preparation guideline....

Pesticides Made with Essential Oils

Beyond Pesticides Rating: Least Toxic

Pesticides made with essential oils are derived from plants that are known to have insecticidal properties. It is important to remember that just because a pesticide is derived from a plant does not mean that it is safe for humans and other mammals or that it cannot kill a wide variety of other life. Many pesticides made with essential oils are formulated with synergists. These have no insecticidal effect of their own, but serve to enhance the insecticidal effect of the botanicals. Carefully read the labels on all products before use to make sure that they do not also contain toxic pesticides. Some botanical pesticides can be quite toxic to humans and should not be used. Neem oil, garlic oil, and sabadilla are some least-toxic botanical pesticides listed below. Others that can also be used as a last resort are citrus oils, mint oil, pine oil, pepper extracts, tree oils and herbal extracts.

Neem oil, extracted from the tropical neem tree, azadirachta indica, contains insecticidal properties that are composed of a complex mixture of biologically active compounds. It has a strong, unpleasant odor. Its various active ingredients act as repellents, feeding inhibitors, egg-laying deterrents, growth retardants, sterilants and direct toxins. Neem has both contact and systemic action in plants. The active ingredients biodegrade rapidly in sunlight and within a few weeks in the soil. Neem oil has very low toxicity to mammals. In India, neem products have been used in toothpaste, pharmaceuticals, and as a grain protectant for centuries without apparent harm to humans.

Garlic oil, exhibits antibacterial, antifungal, amebicidal and insecticidal qualities. Although garlic oils kill pest insects and some pathogens, it also kills beneficial insects and microbes. Thus, it is not recommend as an all-purpose spray for outdoor use.

Sabadilla alkaloids, from the dried ripe seeds of a member of the lily family, Schoenoxaulon officinate, are often used as a broad spectrum low-persistence insecticide. Discovered by Native American peoples in northern South and Central America centuries ago, it was used in wounds against vermin, and came to be used also by the Spanish invaders as a louse powder. The powdered seeds have been known to require aging to become fully active, but potency can be increased by heat treatment and extraction of the alkaloids into a solvent, like kerosene. The alkaloids are photoreactive or unstable in the presence of light. Reported acute toxicity of the crude dust to mammals is low, with an oral rat LD50=500 mg/kg, but the purified sabadilla alkaloids are known to be toxic to bees. Sabadilla dust is very irritating to the upper respiratory tract, causing sneezing, and is irritating to the skin. Poisoning symptoms include: retching, muscle spasms, and especially, slowed heart beat and decreased blood pressure, not unlike that seen with the drug digitalis. The symptoms are slow to disappear. A researcher noted in 1901 that repeated small doses showed possible cumulative effects.