NEEM TREE
Neem tree originated from India. It is planted in every type of soil. Its leaves, seeds, bark, branches, roots and new shoots all are useful. It can be used as a natural pest control and also a good source of organic fertilizer.
IMPORTANCE OF NEEM
Many benificial compounds are present in neem seeds,leaves and other neem plant extracts, which are useful for pest control. Neem compounds mainly work on the insect’s hormonal system but not on the digestive or nervous system, which prohibit the development of pest resistance in future generations. These compounds are called ‘limonoids’.
The liminoids present in neem are natural,harmless and effective pesticide. The liminoids found in neem to block insect growth are: azadirachtin, salanin, meliantriol and nimbin.
Azadirachtin is considered as neem’s main agent for controlling insects. It does not kill insects immediately, instead it prohibits their growth and reproduction and reduces the insect pest attack.
Azadirachtin blocks those parts of the insect’s brain that produce certain vital hormones which are necessary for growth and development of insects. These hormones control the process of metamorphosis as the insects pass from larva to pupa to adult.As a result, insects are unable to molt. The insect populations decline drastically as they become unable to reproduce.
Meliantriol and salannin act as powerful antifeedants. Nimbin and nimbidin (another neem component) have antiviral property.
Neem acts on various insects in the following ways:
Inhibiting the development of eggs, larvae or pupae.
Blocking the molting of larvae or nymphs
Disrupting mating and sexual communication
Repelling larvae and adults
Deterring females from laying eggs
Sterilizing adults
Poisoning larvae and adults
Deterring feeding
Blocking the ability to swallow
For Protecting Stored Grains
One of the traditional uses of neem is for controlling stored grain pests. Farmers usually mix neem leaves with stored grains to prohibit insects,pests from damaging the grains.
Neem leaves, neem oil act as repellent against several insects such as weevils, flour beetles, moths etc.
Jute sacks treatment by neem oil, prevents the attack of pests like weevils and flour beetles.
A mixture of neem leaves with clay and cow-dung develops pest resistant properties so it can be used to make store bins for storage of grain.
Neem can be used as fertilizer and pesticides in different forms like neem cake, neem oil etc.
NEEM CAKE
It is the by-product obtained in the process of cold pressing of neem tree fruits and kernels during neem oil extraction.
Use as a fertilizer
Neem cake is a good source of organic fertilizer as it contains NPK and micronutrients.Neem cake helps in making soil more fertile due to an ingredient present in neem, that blocks soil bacteria from converting nitrogenous compounds into nitrogen gas. It is a nitrification inhibitor and prolongs the availability of nitrogen to both short duration and long duration crops.The neem cake can be applied directly to soil.
Application of Neem cake as pest control
Soak about 500 gm of neem cake powder in 5-10 liter of water for about 2 days.
Soaking results in extraction of all chemical compounds from the neem cake to water.
Then take 1 liter of water from that slurry and mix with fresh water(3-5 lit as per requirement) and applied to plants as spray or by soil application near the plant root zone.
NEEM OIL
Neem oil is a natural pesticide found in neem seeds. It is yellow to brown in colour and has a bitter taste, and a garlic/sulfur smell. It is used for controlling pests and diseases. Components of neem oil are used in many cosmatic products today. Azadirachtin is the most active component found in neem oil for repelling and killing pests.
Application of Neem oil as pest control
Take 2 liter of water in a pot and add 10 ml neem oil. As water and oil can not be mixed, add 5 ml liquid soap with this. Which enables proper mixing of the products.Then apply the mixed liquid on pest attack plants.
Conclusion
Hope this article gives a little understanding about the benefits of neem and its products. Please give your valuable views and share the article.
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