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Scientists Comment on Farmers Plant Protection Practices |
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Dr G M Patel1 wrote to us about some of the plant protection practices that were published in last two issues of Honey Bee, which he believed merited further scientific verification such as: (1) use of lime and butter milk on the larval pest of cabbage; (2) use of the leaves of `Dlumas (Combretum avalifolium); (3) use of the mixture of water and kerosene for the control of `Lunkani; (4) fumigation using bean pods to control aphids; (5) use of the roots of `Nagli (Eleusine carecana) for termite control; and (6) the effectiveness of calotropis in controlling `Katra (Amsacta moori) and `Talkidi ants.
1. Naffatia Leaf Extract Used for Pigeonpea Pests
The extract of this plant (Ipomea spp.) was tried at Gujarat Agricultural university, Anand against Heliothis, Spodoptera, Amsacta and Plutella but it was not found effective. (Could we get information on sample, source, parameters and design of experiments, treatments etc. so that we can compare the same with farmers recipe : ED).
2. Bajra Beetle: Blister Beetle
Kerosene has been recommended in the form of an emulsion in water for treating plants afflicted with sucking insects but not for a bajra beetle. The preparation of the emulsion is some what tendious (shouldnt we evaluate this ”tendiousness“ with the cost and ”effectiveness“ of the alternatives ? :)
3. Trapping Cotton Pests through Sugar Solution
Fermented carbohydrates attract many lepidopterans insects (moths and butterflies) and concentrated sugar solution which is sticky enough for use in trapping these insects (Why havent we recommended this as a technology ?: Ed).
4. Termites: Incorporating Tobacco into the Soil
Tobacco contains nicotine which is a powerful contact insectiside. It is used in the form of tobacco decoction or nicotine sulphate (readily avalilable in the market) for soft bodied insects like aphids, whitefly, jassids, thrips etc. Thus when tobacco incorporated in to the soil, comes in contact with the termites, it perhaps poisons and kills them. Since it is the waste material that is incorporated into soil, the technique is worth verifying.
5. Physical Methods for the Control of Hungo (Blister Beetle) in Maize
Soaking the insectes in kerosene perhaps gives off a bad odour that has a repellent effect- when treated beetles release some alarm pheromones to warn its fellows of impending ”danger“. This needs to be verified.
6. Aphids: Ash for Control
Ash acts as a mechanical measure that makes fine scratches on insects body. Water is lost through these scatches and the continuous dehydration results in death of injured insects.
7. Cactus trap for tabacco pests
Cactus of the Euphorbia spp. and its leaves are eaten by the Gujarat Hairy caterpillar (Amsacta moori) Farmers in Kadi taluka put small pieces of cactus on the borders of fields to lure the pest away from crops. The efficacy of this practice, however, needs to be evaluated. (Please do write to us whenever experimental results are available:ED).
8. Lashkari: By Using Kerosene
Lashkari is a Spodoptera litura larva which feeds gregariously inits intial instar stage. It generally hides in cracks of the soil or under debris during day and feeds at night. Flooding suffocates the larvae in the cracks. Kerosene does have some insecticidal property so the addition of kerosene may increase the effectiveness of flooding. Spraying of kerosene needs special precautions because of its toxicity to the crop itself. |
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| Volume No. |
Honey Bee, 3(3&4) 3: 1992 |
