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Organic pesticides are pesticides made from naturally occurring substances or self-made mixtures made from organic soaps and/or ethanol.
Organic pesticides can allow farmers to control pest and diseases in plants without resorting to conventional pesticides. This does not necessarily mean that they are safer to use. Organic presticides can be as damaging to the fauna/flora in the environment as chemical pesticides.[1] However, in comparison to chemical pesticides, they can be much more easily decomposed by the environment.
This page lists the organic pesticides you can make locally, and discusses against which pest/disease it is effective. The recipes themselves can be found at organic pesticide recipes.
Use pest-specific pesticides[edit | edit source]
The key to using pesticides appropriately is to use pesticides that are (as much as possible) is to know exactly what the problem or pest/disease is that is causing problems. Some problems may not be pests/diseases at all, rather nutrient deficiencies. If it is a pest/disease, try to identify it before using any pesticides at all.
Here are some resources that can help you identify the problem:
- Texas Plant disease Handbook- This excellent resource has a list of common crops in Texas and commonly associated pests and diseases. Pictures included
- A guide to Natural Enemies in North America - List of predators with pictures. Useful guide but some latin may be required!!
- Household and Structural Pest Identification - Follow the key to identify common pests.
List of organic pesticides[edit | edit source]
Note: Where a plant is named as a potential pesticide, this plant the substance is derived from can often be intercropped to have the same pesticidal effect
| Organic Pesticide | Against which pests & diseases ? | Notes and academic articles |
|---|---|---|
| Baking soda, sodium bicarbonate | fungi, powdery mildew, rose black spot, anthracnose, downy mildew, brown patch | http://web.archive.org/web/20100507163427/http://attra.ncat.org:80/attra-pub/bakingsoda.html |
| Black Jack seeds | Aphids, caterpillars | ? |
| Bordeaux mixture | Aphids, caterpillars | Bordeaux mixture is a mixture of copper sulphate and slaked lime. It works preventively to fungal attacks. It is a very old mixture. The copper ions on the leaf prevent the germination of the fungal spores and the calcium also increases the pH. |
| Chinaberry leaves | Aphids, caterpillars | ? |
| Cornmeal, cornmeal solutions | yellow leaves on photinia, brown patch, algae in seedlings, leaf spots on roses | ? |
| Confusion lures | ? | ? |
| Citric acid | ? | ? |
| copper sulphate /copper hydroxide /copper oxide | ? | ? |
| Dead bug spray | Any insects | http://web.archive.org/web/20080821124420/http://wiwi.essortment.com/homemadeorgani_renu.htm |
| Diatomaceous earth | ? | ? |
| Garlic, garlic solutions, garlic oil | Aphids, thrips, mosquitoes, onion flies, rabbits (on potatoes), other chewing and sucking insects | When using garlic on soil with thrips, it will cause the thrips to come to the surface. Once they are at the surface, fermented water/plant mix (from stinging nettle) can be used. Garlic can also be intercropped to repel similar insects |
| Ethanol | Mealy bugs | ? |
| Human/animal urine | Aphids, caterpillars | Has dual use as it acts both a fertiliser and a pesticide |
| Jojoba oil | ? | ? |
| Kaolin Clay | Protects mainly against insects, but also some diseases. May also reduce damage from birds since there are less insects to attract them. | Non toxic to humans, and not known to hamper activities of beneficial insects such as honey bees. |
| Milk, milk solutions | Mildew, blight | Abstract, Crop Science (Vol. 18, 1999, pp. 489-92) |
| Neem leaves, neem oil | Aphids, Bull worm, caterpillars | Neem can have multiple functions such as for medicinal use. See Neem article |
| Paraffinic oil | ? | ? |
| Paprika, hot pepper | cats, dogs, insects, bugs, snails and snails (on leaves) | often used in combination with spearmint to improve effectiveness |
| Potassium bicarbonate | ? | ? |
| Pyrethrum | ? | this plant-based insecticide is a strong neurotoxin to all cold-blooded creatures. It is virtually harmless to warm-blooded creatures however. Pyrethrum breaks down within 48 hours. Other plant-based insecticides are Koppert Rotenon and Koppert Plantschoon. |
| Rock meal | bacteria, fungi, some insects | Seaweed calcium, basalt and lava meal increase the acidity which protects crops from bacteria/fungi. The fine rock meal has a dehydrating effect and damages the wax layer of many insects. By dusting or spraying, the plants are covered with a thin layer of dust. Treatment is done in the evening and it should not rain for 12 hours (maximally done for up to 2 times per month). Dosage= 250g/are. |
| Spinosad | ? | ? |
| Silicic acid | ? | spraying of this increases the plant defenses |
| Soap, soapsuds, soap solutions | Slugs, aphids | Solutions can be sprayed on any plant leaves or used near affected plants |
| Spearmint | insects, bugs, chewing insects | often used in combination with hot pepper to improve effectiveness |
| Sulphur | several fungi (mildew and scab) | one sprays pure sulphur. It is harmless to humans and animals. Bio-S is a commercial sulphur product. |
| Tobacco, nicotine, nicotine solutions | Caterpillars, aphids, many types of worms, fungus gnats, symphylids, centipedes, root lice, other underground pests | Solutions can be sprayed on any plant leaves or used near affected plants |
| Tomato leaves | common insects, blight | [1] |
| (Wood) ash | Common insects | repellant substances as wood ash can be placed around the edge of vegetable areas to reduce pests. It is presumed that this materials is avoided by insects and small rodents
Herbal repellents from Soberbio Veto |
| Soberbio Veto | Rat, Lizard, Roach, Snake | . This is formula with organic extracts of Margosa, eucalyptus, holy basil, clove oil etc do it yourself technique with convenience of just keep the extract in a area and with the diffusion in air it irritates and repels pest. |
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ http://www.bna.com/webwatch/organicpesticide.htm Organic pesticides]
See also[edit | edit source]
- Integrated Pest Management
- Organic pesticide recipes
- Fertiliser - some fertilisers also work as a pesticide against some pests
- Chemical pesticides - persistent pesticides, only allowed in conventional farming
