pest control

 

  Biological pest control

The major changes that took place with the Green Revolution were irrigation in the agricultural sector, the introduction of new crop varieties, and the introduction of agrochemicals. With these changes came a significant increase in the yield of agricultural produce. But with the increasing and informal use of agrochemicals, it is unfortunate that other plants, animals as well as ecosystems as a whole are adversely affected.

Furthermore, since synthetic pesticides do not cause biodegradation, the residual material remains in the environment, causing their toxicity to further adverse effects on all organisms in the long run. Once this situation is identified, there is a tendency today to switch to green pesticides instead of synthetic agro-pesticides.

Demand for this specialty has grown significantly as more and more consumers are becoming aware of the harmful effects of synthetic pesticides. Therefore, it is very important to focus on sustainable organic farming. Instead of using artificial pesticides, it is important to control crop diseases and pests in an environmentally friendly manner as well as to maintain a quantitative and qualitative balance of agricultural products.

Thus biological pest control methods can be distinguished as follows.
01. Botanical Pesticide - Inorganic Pesticides
02. Microbial Pesticide - Microbial Pesticides
03. Plant - Incorporated- Protectants) (PIPs) - Plant Incorporated Protection

01. Botanical Pesticide
In the past, various plants and their derivatives have been used to protect crops and to protect food stores from pests. Naturally, some superior plants produce insect-resistant secondary metabolites, which can be found in the leaves, roots, bark, fruit, and seeds of the plant. It has been found that this metabolism changes the behaviors and life cycles of insects.

Azadirachta indica (Neem), meanwhile, is one of the most widely used and effective pest control plants, and the compound Azadirachtin, derived from its seeds, is the active chemical. In the meantime, scientists have identified the chemical structure of azadirachtin and synthesized it in 2007, which will be of great help in the production of natural bio-pesticides. Further research has shown that products containing azadirachtin are environmentally friendly and non-toxic. (EPA- Environmental Protection Agency)

Meanwhile, Chrysanthemum Spp. Used in the manufacture of organic pesticides. The dried buds of the plant provide about six terpinoid esters, which act as insecticides on these esters. (Insecticidal Compound)

In addition, the essential oils of many plants are a combination of a number of volatile compounds, including alcohol, phenol, ketones, ketones, aldehydes, and acids, which can be found in various parts of the plant. The release of these by the plant protects the plant from pathogens as well as herbivores. It has also been found that these compounds alter the growth of insects under the influence of hormones secreted by the endocrine glands of insects. At the same time, plants such as coriander emit strong odors, which also protect the surrounding crop plants. Such insect-resistant chemical compounds are found in plant species such as Zingiberaceae and Piperaceae.

Biochemical compounds derived from the extraction of these chemical compounds will be important for pest control in organic food production.

02. Microbial Pesticide
Insect control can also be seen using other microorganisms, including fungi, bacteria, and viruses. A good example of this is pest control using Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt. Insect larval stages are controlled by toxic crystal proteins secreted by Bt. Bacteria that live in the soil.

Another example is the use of the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens to control Crown Gall in plants.

03. Plant - Incorporated- Protectants (PIPs)
Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria isolate the gene responsible for the production of toxic crystal proteins and introduce them to plants, where the plant produces those proteins for pest control. Thus the plant is protected from insects. This method has been used to control European Corn Borer, Cotton bollworm, Tobacco budworm.

Among the benefits of adopting bio-pest control methods,

1. Less Toxic
2. Minimize damage to the environment due to exposure to targeted insect pests.
3. Biodegradable environment does not exist. Hence the rapid decomposition.
4. Avoid pollution problems caused by synthetic pesticides due to their use in very small quantities.
5. Ability to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides in integrated pest management (IPM) and increase crop yields
Such advantages can be pointed out.
(Courtesy of the Internet)

Potato cultivation‌

1 Selection of bins

2 Making seedlings

3 Planting seedlings

4 Harvest

 5

Local potato varieties --- SRI LANKA

The daily food of the aborigines of Sri Lanka, who were well connected to the natural environment, was sourced from the surrounding environment. The daily diet, which is adapted from the surrounding environment, includes local herbs as well as potatoes. With the end of November according to the Sinhala lunar calendar, the sounds of ravens heard throughout the months of Unduvap, ​​Duruthu and Nawam were a good omen for the local farmer. With the sweet sound of the rooster, the farmers begin to pluck the potatoes they have planted in their hay or barn. Beginning in the month of November and ending in the month of Unduvap, ​​the leaves of the tubers and trees planted in the forts begin to turn golden. When these symptoms appeared, farmers in many parts of the country, as in the past, knew that the potatoes they had planted were ripe.
 
After the harvest, they perform rituals associated with it and share the potato crop with the surrounding villagers, setting aside seeds for the next season. The rest is kept for food during the coming rainy season. Due to good security, these potato crops could be consumed for up to 6 months of the year.

Today, there is a tendency for the local potato crop to be abandoned as well as the environment for a variety of reasons. There are several main reasons for this. After the introduction of the open economy in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankans have moved away from local food to fast food consumption. The other factor is that landlocked areas become urbanized and the space becomes smaller. In addition to these two main reasons, the other factor that has contributed to this is the reluctance of farmers to cultivate any crop in the available space.

As in the past, the cultivation of local potato varieties brings many benefits. These are the advantages of potato being a crop that can be grown in any small or terrestrial area as it does not require the use of water and agrochemicals, only organic fertilizers can be used, high yield with minimal labor and minimal impact of diseases and pests. Is in between. Potatoes in Sri Lanka are divided into two main parts namely vine tubers and tree tubers.

Potatoes -( væl ala) - Sri Lanka
These include sweet potato, thorny potato, dandila potato, hirithala, nattala, udala potato, raja potato, kiri kodol, kukulala, red = potato, hingurala, atu ala, finger potato, ini ala, kahata ala and gonala.

Tree tubers growing up to 3000 feet in the wet zone should be planted from April to May of the year and dug during the dry season from December to January. Vine tubers, which can be grown very successfully in the lowlands and the Middle East, can often be grown as a by-product of coconut and rubber plantations. Potatoes that can be propagated with the help of cuttings can be grown in any area where the water recedes at any time of the year. Potatoes that can be grown on flat lands, canals and ditches should be planted in one of three ways.
1. Planting in the canal.
2. Bend the stalks to the ground so that the bud is in the middle.
3. Submerge the soil so that both ends are above the buds.

Ash is a successful method of stalk sprouting. After planting, weeding is essential until the vine grows well. Potatoes ripen in 3 1/2 to 5 months after planting. When the tubers are ripe, the leaves turn yellow. This is a sign that it is time to harvest. Peel a squash, grate it and squeeze the juice. If thickening occurs as soon as the milk comes out, it is a sign that the tubers are ripe. When rescuing the tubers, care should be taken not to injure the tubers. Injured tubers are difficult to preserve.

Potatoes- (gas ala) - Sri Lanka
Trees are divided into two main parts namely Habarala and Gahala. Both these varieties are classified as Potato, Milk Potato, Mother Potato, Sewell Potato, Artichoke Potato, Ral Burulla Potato, Kidaran Potato, Hulankiriya Potato, Buthsarana Potato, Thunmasla Potato, Habarala, Wel Potato, Kadala, Manioc and Kohila.

Cultivation of trees and tubers
Trees can be grown in an area up to 4000 feet above sea level. Can be grown well in rainfed areas as well as in lowland and midland wet zone areas with favorable environmental conditions. It can also be grown in the dry zone. Leaf-eating potato leaves and wormwood leaves can also be grown in waterlogged areas. Hard clay soil is not suitable for potato cultivation.

Land preparation
Tubers can usually be planted in a pit dug to a depth of 9 1/2 to 10 inches. A pit size of 1 foot is sufficient.

The spacing of the pits varies according to the potato variety. Pits should be prepared with a spacing of 2 ft. For potatoes, 3 ft. For potatoes such as gahala and lime and 4 ft. For milk tubers.

Organic manure should be applied to prepared pits, drains or ditches as required. Weed control is very important here. Weeding should be started about 1 1/2 months after planting. At the time of weeding, the soil should be leveled at the top of the plant. Special care should be taken to cover the growing tubers with soil so that they are not exposed to the sun.

Preservation of potatoes
Preservation of harvested tubers is essential Farmers have adopted several methods in preserving potatoes locally. The ancient farmers used potato husk and potato husk for this purpose. Potatoes were also buried.

Two factors were taken into consideration while storing the tubers in the tubers or in the tubers.

One is to protect the tubers from the dry nature when removed from the soil.

The other is to remove and clean the soil after digging the tubers.

In this case, if the tubers are covered with soil, they will not be able to eat due to the emergence of buds from the tubers. Pottery and Ceramics Potato surface

When removing the remaining soil, care should be taken not to damage the outer layer of the tuber.

Laying the soil
In the past, farmers preserved potatoes by covering them with dry vines so that they would not get air in a place where there was no moisture. This method was able to preserve the tubers for a period of 3 to 6 months.

Potting of potato seeds
Selected tubers for seeds should be stored until planting time. In this case, the tubers selected for the seeds could be kept in a corner of the seed shed and the tubers could be kept intact until the time of planting by covering the tubers with clay.

Mixing of tuber dahiya
Another method of preserving the seeds set aside for the next season is to place the potato seeds on the dung or clay soil and bury them in the finger shape.

About 60 species of potatoes have been reported from Sri Lanka so far and it appears that about 23 species have been scientifically studied.

Potatoes- (kiri ala) Sri Lanka

Shrubs grow well in fertile soils. Factors such as rain, humidity, temperature and sunlight do not affect much. The mother plant gives small seedlings.

Nutrition - Milk potato eats not only the tubers but also the leaves and stems. The leaves are also processed into a paste. Most people do not eat because they do not know. It is a very nutritious food as well as beneficial for diabetics.

(uḍala)  -    Sri Lanka

Distribution - West Africa, India and Sri Lanka. Can be easily cultivated in many parts of Sri Lanka.

Appearance - The leaves are large. Is round. At the base of the tuber grows large round tubers. At the top of the tuber are small round tubers. There are also wild scenes here. There are white spots on the leaves and tubers of the wild. The villagers call this weed a worm cod. These are not taken for food but for medicine.

Nutrition - Very similar to potatoes. The starch is high.

Sweet potato 

Distribution - Found in South America, Asian and African continents and is a popular crop in all parts of Sri Lanka.

Locally, there are several varieties of sweet potatoes. These are called red sweet potatoes, yellow sweet potatoes, white sweet potatoes, and finger sweet potatoes. There is also a variety called Hiramana sweet potato. Can be propagated by cuttings. Can be grown at any time of the year. It can also be grown on a medium to large scale as a successful economic crop in the garden as a daily food. There is a good demand in the market as sweeteners are used in various food products.

Nutrition - High in carbohydrates and high in simple sugars and fiber. It also contains beta carotene or vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B6. It is considered as a nutritious food as it contains protein, iron and calcium.

Three meat potatoes 
(tun mas ala)

Can be grown in dry sandy soil. The leaves are slightly rounded. Potatoes and bark turn blackish-purple. Like potatoes, batter is also a delicious curry.

Harvest is available about three months after planting. When this time comes, the leaves of the mother plant turn yellow and dry up. As it is high in starch, it also has the property of enhancing body strength. It can also be eaten boiled for breakfast.

Kidaran potatoes

Found in tropical Asian countries and Sri Lanka. It has been identified that there are 3 types. Eats two varieties with light green stems and white spots. The goba and ala (boiled) can be eaten as a curry.

The type with dark green stems and leaves is called Behet Kidaran. In local medicine, nuts are used to treat ulcers. Do not eat.

Kidaran food is good for digestion and appetite. Beneficial for gastrointestinal diseases and hemorrhoids and indigestion. There is also a variety called wild kidaran. The villagers call these the Polon Kidarans. The trunk here is red. The spots look like a snake's. Used for medicine but not for food.

gahala

There are several variants. Habarala and Gahala are divided into two main types. Both these varieties are suitable for cultivating three-month potato, gahala, lime and desala varieties. Milk potato and kandala are the varieties which give yield between 3 and 4 months. There is also a variety called Sewell Potato. These are suitable for cultivation in sandy soils. Cultivated in the usual potato cultivation method. Since the tubers ripen in 6 months, the harvest can be obtained. During the ripening period the leaves die. Morays reappear.

Nutrition - The slimy nature of semolina, which is very good for depression, is suitable for anyone of any age group as it helps in preventing stomach ailments as well as body heat.

rāja ala

Distribution - Distributed in India, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan and Sri Lanka.

There are two varieties of sweet potatoes that can be grown in many parts of Sri Lanka. These two varieties include the outer bark light purple and the dark purple. Consists of a large single tuber.

Nutrition - It can be taken as a staple food as it is high in starch when boiled. It can also be grown as an economic crop as it is used to produce various foods.

Buthsarana

Buthsarana is found in Sri Lanka as well as in the Caribbean and tropical American countries. There are two types of butchery. They are called red butcher and white butcher.

It should be planted at a distance from the bushes as the seedlings can be propagated from tubers and shoots from the mother plant. Shows that the tubers are tied together. The mother tubers are quite large. Viral. Tubers emerge about a year after planting. When the tubers ripen, the tree dies.

A species called red butcher is good for jaundice patients. A delicious floury dish. Although not in demand in the market, it is suitable for home gardening and daily consumption.

Paddy Cultivation

There is a great deal of disagreement as to when and where the paddy plant originated. Some scientists believe that the first origin of the rice plant was in China, but some scientists believe that it occurred in India. However, by now it is assumed that the origin of paddy originated in Southeast Asia. However, it is thought that the origin of paddy could be attributed to those countries as there are many varieties of paddy cultivated in India and China. The Oryza genus includes 22 species, but only two of which are cultivated

1.Oryza sativa L. (Asian Rice group)
2.Oryza glaberrima steud. (African Paddy Group)

Scientists believe that the species Oryza sativa originated from the Asian wild type Oryza rufipogon, and the Oryza glaberrima species Oryza breviligulata, which is native to Africa. Oryza rufipogon is present in three perennial, annual and continuum, and Oryza breviligulate perennial varieties, under normal environmental conditions.

Paddy has become a widespread crop in the tropical, subtropical and temperate countries of the world. It has been reported that paddy has been cultivated as an agricultural crop in other countries. In Mesopotamia Poe Also in the 3rd century AD, Japan and Korea. Poe Spread over 2-3 centuries.

In Egypt 2nd century AD Madagascar and East Africa Ex. 6th century AD Spain Ex. Spread over the 9th century. AD in Portugal Ex. The 15th century islands of the West Indies. Ex. 15th century AD to Brazil 15th Century Australia 19th century AD Ex. The African rice scene is a native of Africa, mainly in the savannah grasslands of the Sahara Desert.

Paddy (Oryza sativa .L)

Kingdom: Plantae
Category: Tracheophyta (vascular plants)
Subdivision (S.Division): Pteropsida (seed plant)
Class: Angiospermae (dead seed plants)
Subclass (S.Class): Monocotyledoneae (monocotyledonous plants)
Tribe: (Order): Graminales
Family: Gramineae
Genus: Oryza
Species: Sativa

There are 2 species of subspecies (S.Species).

Hesien - Eco Group - Indica - (Indica)

A man (Moonsoon rice) - Prabha sensitive
Boro (winter rice) - Prabha stages are not sensitive
Aus (spring rice) - Prabha stages are not sensitive

Keng - Eco group

Japonica - (Japonica)
Communis (Common Kong varieties)
Nuda - (Paddy varieties grown in smooth highlands)
Invanaca (Bulu and Gundil)