Role of botanical pesticide in agriculture: Formulation, application and field challenges

Deepika Mishra*, Jiwan Singh, SaurabhVerma

Department of Environmental Science, BabasahebBhimraoAmbedkar University Lucknow-226025, India

Cite this article: Mishra, D., Singh, J., Verma,S., 2025. Role of Botanical Pesticides in Agriculture: Formulation, Application and Field Challenges. J. Appl. Sci. Innov. Technol. 4 (2), 56-63

Highlights

  • Eco – friendly plant – based pesticides containing natura bioactive compounds _(Alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids).
  • Multiple pest control action such as repellent, antifeedant, insecticidal and ovicidal effects.
  • Biodegradable and safe for soil, water and the environment.
  • Support sustainable and organic agriculture.
  • Botanical pesticides help in IPM by providing eco- friendly, multi- action pest control that reduce chemical reliance.

 

Abstract 

Botanical pesticide is derived from plants which show fungicidal, insecticidal and repellent properties. Botanical pesticide is obtained from many plant parts like bark, seeds, leaves, roots which contain active component like alkaloids, phenolics, terpenoids and essential oils. Botanical pesticides act as good pesticides due to its eco- friendly and low toxicity on non- target pest. Nowdays new techniques are being used to improve botanical pesticides such as nano-emulsion, encapsulation, wettable powder formation but these techniques are useful for agriculture but their manufacturing cost is high and their large scales production is difficult. Uses of botanical pesticide arealso providing benefits to the soil heath, biodiversity and agriculture ecosystem in the long term as compared to synthetic pesticides.Consequently,an application of botanical pesticisedes arepreventing chemical pesticide and their residue from entering into the soil or water and it is also beneficial for pollinators and soil microbes. It has been found out from from previous research work that with benefitsof botanical pesticides, their production is equally challenging because of their limited shelf life and poor stability. It reduced effectiveness of bio pesticides in heat, light or high humidity. To overcome existing challenges, synergistic approach should be used by integrating botanical pesticide with beneficial micro-organisms. This should be produced on a large scale for field application.This reviewarticle mainly focusing on extraction, formulation and its field application of botanical pesticides.

Keywords: Botanical Pesticides; Extraction Methods; Pesticides Formulation; Pest Management

Scope: Environmental Science & Technology

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