Table of Contents
Introduction
In agriculture, the use of garlic (Allium sativum) as a natural biopesticide can be practiced because it has fungicidal and pesticide properties that are effective in controlling pests in plants.
The natural pesticide (garlic) has a strong aroma that can provide an olfactory camouflage against insects, masking their normal host-finding or feeding cues
Aphids, ants, termites, whiteflies, beetles, borers, caterpillars, slugs, and armyworms are some of the pests that can be suitably controlled using garlic
The whole garlic plant (including all the parts : flowers, bulbs and leaves) can be used as a biopesticide in plant protection. Biopesticide made by garlic is effective because of its repellent, insecticidal, fungicidal, nematicidal, and antibiotic properties.
Garlic oil spray has a wide range of effects. It is not recommended for controlling aphids because it kills the natural enemies of aphids. Its applications should be confined to home and garden settings where natural controls are scarce.
Methods of using garlic as biopesticide
Following are some of the ways in which garlic can be used to control pest and diseases in plants
Method 1 .
Ingredients needed :
2 garlic bulbs
Soap Solution
Grinder
Strainer
1 Container
Preparation :
Grind the garlic in a fine paste. Add few drops of soap solution. Mix well and let the mixture to stand for 24-36 hours in a container.
How to use :
Mix the emulsion in water. The ratio of dilution of the emulsion should be 9 parts water and 1 part the mixture (9:1). Shake the solution well before spraying it on the plants. This solution should be sprayed on the entire infected plant. It is advisable to do this early morning.
The pests targeted :
Black spots
Blight
Fruit rots
Mildew
Rusts
Method 2 .
Ingredients needed :
85 grams of chopped garlic
950 milliliter of water
10 milliliter of soap solution
50 milliliter of vegetable oil or kerosene oil
1 Container
Preparation :
Mix the oil and garlic in a container and allow the mixture to rest for 24 hours. After this add the water and the soap solution. Strain the solution before use.
How to use :
Mix the emulsion in water. The ratio of dilution of the emulsion should be 19 parts water and 1 part the mixture (19:1). Shake the solution well before spraying it on the plants. This solution should be sprayed on the entire infected plant. It is advisable to do this early morning.
Shake the mixture in regular intervals to avoid the oil from separating and floating on the surface.
The pests targeted :
American bollworm
Anthracnose
Armyworm
Bacterial diseases
Cotton Stainer
Downey mildew
Onion thrips
Potato tuber moth
Rice blast
Root-knot nematode
Method 3 .
Ingredients needed :
100 grams of finely chopped garlic
0.5 liters water for preparation of emulsion
10 liters of water for dilution of the emulsion
2 table spoon of mineral oil
10 milliliter of soap solution
1 Container
Preparation :
Mix the finely chopped garlic with oil and let the solution to rest of 24 hours. After the mixture has been rested, add half a liter of water and 10 ml of soap solution. Mix well by shaking of stirring and strain the solution.
How to use :
Add 10 liters of water to the prepared and strained solution. Spray it on the infected plant.
Shake the mixture in regular intervals to avoid the oil from separating and floating on the surface.
The pests targeted :
Leafhoppers
Squash bugs
Whitefly
Method 4 .
Ingredients needed :
50 milliliter of garlic oil
1 milliliter of soap solution
950 milliliter of water
Preparation :
Mix the garlic oil, water and soap solution by shaking or stirring in a container .
How to use :
Spray the solution on the entire infected plant. It is advisable to spray the solution early morning or late afternoon.
Shake the mixture in regular intervals to avoid the oil from separating and floating on the surface.
The pests targeted :
American bollworm
Potato tuber moth
Rice blast
Rice brown leaf spot
Root-knot nematode
Precautions to take while preparation and application of garlic biopesticide
1 . Select parts of the garlic plant that are disease-free
2 . When preparing and applying the crude extract, do not come into direct contact with it.
3 . Make sure all the mature and ripe fruits are harvested before applying the extract.
4 . It is always best to test the formulation of the plant extract on a few infested plants before proceeding with large-scale spraying.
5 . While leaving the plant extract overnight, make sure it is out of reach of children and house pets.
6 . Protect your skin and eyes from the extract by wearing gloves, eye protection and protective cloths.
