Tag: natural pesticides

Biological pesticides

Biological pesticides

 

The use of commercial pesticides kills; not only the target insect pests, but also beneficial

insects like spider, grasshoppers and others. Besides this, it leaves residues in the plant

where it is sprayed, and is harmful to the person spraying. If inhaled, pesticide can cause

cancer in the long run.

 

Pesticides chemically prepared are expensive; we have plants that naturally repel harmful

insect at no cost, such as:

 

1. Wild pepper – dried and pulverized

– Spray on infected plants. When this becomes moist from dew, insect pests are repelled.

 

2. Combination of 3 pieces of garlic, 2 pieces pepper, and 2 piece onions grind and pulverize

these, soak overnight in water. By next morning, fill up the water to make 3 gallons. Strain and

spray on affected plants.

  Continue reading “Biological pesticides”

Organic Weed Killer

Vinegar: The effective weedkiller

By Rita T. Dela Cruz

BAR today – April –June 2002

 

Vinegar is part of every household’s kitchen but did you know that this sour-tasting liquid is an effective herbicide for organic farming?

This is the major finding of a study conducted by Jay Radhakrishnan, John Teasdale and Ben Coffman, researchers from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) the principal scientific research agency of the US Department of Ariculture (USDA). Although, a few farmers have already been using natural agents like baking soda, garlic and vinegar as herbicide, there were really no scientific studies to back-up that these agents are effective. Thus, scientists from ARS conducted greenhouse and field researches to determine the effectiveness of vinegar as herbicide.

To conform to organic farming standards, the scientist used vinegar derived from fruits (grapes and apples) or grains (malt). Naturally processed vinegar is produced by rotting the fruits or the grains under an anaerobic or “no-oxygen condition”. Through fermentation, the sugars from these plant sources are converted to alcohol and carbon dioxide. Through oxidation, the alcohol reacts with air to form vinegar.

Vinegar that is prepared from plants sources contains 5% acetic acid, a pungent, colorless acid, which is basically the main component of vinegar. Continue reading “Organic Weed Killer”