Use of Biopesticides in Modern Agriculture
Gurvinder Kaur and Dalbir Singh
Email id- kaur.gurvinder2016@gmail.com; 9888338149
Pesticides are majorly implicated in agricultural fields for crop production enhancement, to protect foods during storage from insects, rats and other biological attack. Some pesticides, like herbicides, are applied to clear roadside weeds, trees, and shrubs and are commonly applied in ponds and lakes to control unwanted aquatic plants. Insecticides like fipronil are one of the common ectoparasitic agent and is used widely in veterinary sector. Apart from their recalcitrant structure and agricultural benefits, they also impose acute toxicological effects onto the non-target life forms (Verma and Bhardwaj, 2015). Pesticides and their metabolites are known for their persistence in the environment, they main interact with the environment and other non-target life forms in multiple ways.
If we talk about Punjab state, Punjab seems to be going on pesticide detox after decades of abuse. The consumption of technical grade pesticides has come down to less than 5,000 tonnes for 2019-20 from 5543 tonnes in 2018-2019. Although there is a decline in the usage of pesticides, but Punjab continues to be the third number in the pesticide consumption after Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. To overcome the issues of pesticides persistence and pest resistance, many other alternatives for crop enhancement and to delineate the use of pesticides, use of biopesticides can be promoted. The use of biopesticides as an alternative agrochemical have declined the use of synthetic chemicals by 2% per year (Damalas and Koutroubas, 2018). Owing towards the health consciousness trends around the world, the demand for organic food and eco-friendly crop protection solutions is on the rise.
Based on the nature and origin of the active ingredients, biopesticides fall into several categories such as botanicals, antagonists, compost teas, growth promoters, predators and pheromones (Semeniuc et al., 2017). Plants and microorganisms are the major sources of biopesticides due to the high components of bioactive compounds and antimicrobial agents. All these above mentioned biopesticides fall into three major classes- biochemical pesticides, microbial pesticides, and plant-incorporated protectants (Leahy et al., 2014). These pesticides are based on pathogenic microorganisms specific to a target pest, thereby providing an ecologically sound and effective solution to pest problems. The commonly used biopesticides are living organisms, which are pathogenic for the pest of interest such as bio fungicides (Trichoderma), bioherbicides (Phytophthora), and bioinsecticides (Bacillus thuringiensis).
Punjab government, through a notification, has banned the usage of nine pesticides, generally used for Basmati and non-Basmati crops, for 60 days — August 14 to October 14. There are over 10,000 pesticide dealers in Punjab and almost all of them had stocked up ahead of the sowing season. The government has directed the dealers to either return the stock to the manufactures or remove them from display of their stores. More than half of these pesticides are also used by farmers for other crops such as wheat, vegetables, fruits, sugarcane as well as for seed treatment. Farm experts, pesticide dealers and farmers said that such temporary bans cannot stop usage of such pesticides even for Basmati and non-Basmati crop, which is the main target of the government.
Figure1. Difference between chemical and biopesticides and their impact on target and non-target species.
In India, a major technological breakthrough in the field of biopesticides happened when chemical insecticides failed to control Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera litura, and other pests of cotton (Kranthi et al., 2002). It was realized that biocontrol is the only means that can be utilized as a safe, cost-effective, and eco-friendly method to control the widespread resistance of chemical insecticides towards pest insects. As discussed above, India is slowly but steadily adopting the biopesticides in agricultural practice some of which are discussed below. In India, 12 different kinds of biopesticides under the Insecticide Act of 1968 have been recorded (Kandpal, 2014). The main biopesticides manufactured and used in India are Neem-based insecticides, Bacillus thuringensis, NPV-H (Nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Helicoverpa armigera), and Trichoderma.
Neem (Azadirachta indica): Neem is a very common plant used by Indians from centuries. Insecticidal properties of biopesticides like neem are known. The major neem extract such as neem oil, leaf extracts, bark extracts, and root extracts as well as the by-product of neem i.e., neem cake contain pesticidal properties and are used as bio-pesticide, fungicide and organic manure (Acharya et al., 2017). A chemical compound azadirachtin, is found in neem. It is lethal to insects as it directly affects the digestion and reproductive processes (Bhatia, 2022). Moreover, neem extract is being used to control pest like bollworm and other harmful pests. Pigeon pea and chickpea pods are also being protected from borer via used of neem (Devi & Palai, 2022). Plant based biopesticides could emerge as the safest and most effective form of pesticides as it causes no harm or cancer to birds, animals or humans.
Figure2. Biopesticide consumption scenario of neem and Bacillus thuringiensis
Trichoderma: it is an effective fungicide known for its effectiveness against soil borne diseases. Trichogramma are exclusively egg parasite and they lay their eggs in the eggs of various lepidopteran pests. After hatching Trichogramma larve will feed on host eggs and ultimately destroy them. Effectiveness of Trichoderma is observed in sugarcane internode borer, pink bollworm, sooted bollworms in cotton and stem borer in rice.
Below given are some successes that are achieved in agriculture department by deployment of biopesticides in India (Kalra and Khanuja, 2007):
- Control of Diamond moth, Helicoverpa on cotton, pigeon pea and tomato via Bacillus thuringiensis
- Control of coffee pod borer, mango hoppers and mealy bugs using Beauveria
- White fly control using neem products
- Use of trichogramma for controlling sugarcane borer
Conclusion
Biopesticides have tremendous calibre for stabilizing the global agricultural scenario by improving the food quality and food security. Yet the use and production of biopesticides are limited, but its effectiveness and minimum adverse effects will outstand the conventional chemical pesticides in near future.
References:
- Acharya, P., Mir, S. A., & Nayak, B. (2017). Competence of biopesticide and neem in agriculture. International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology, 2(6), 2958-2964. https://doi.org/10.22161/ijeab/2.6.23
- Bhatia, S. (2022) Pest Control Through Biopesticides.
- Devi, S. T., & Palai, J. B. (2022) Low-Cost Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture.
- Kandpal, V. (2014). Res. India Publ4, 190–196.
- Kranthi, K.R., Jadhav, D.R., Kranthi, S., Wanjari, R.R., Ali, S.S. & Russell, D.A.(2002). Insecticide resistance in five major insect pests of cotton in India. Crop Protection 21(6), 449–460. Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0261-2194(01)00131-4 1016/s0261-2194(01)00131-4
- Nayak, P, & Solanki, H (2021). Pesticides and indian agriculture- a review. International Journal of Research – GRANTHAALAYAH, 9(5), 250. doi: 10.29121/granthaalayah.v9.i5.2021.3930
- Semeniuc, C.A., Pop, C.R. and Rotar, A.M. (2017) Antibacterial Activity and Interactions of Plant Essential Oil Combinations gainst Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 25, 403-408.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfda.2016.06.002
