Natural-Pest-and-Disease-Control-Handbook_Final_Ek_Jan-2012

Eds: K Kaluwa, E. Kruger

Photos: P Martin

Lima RDF

From: Cedara report no N\A\99\18, P.

Breedt

For: KZNDAE, 2012

Natural Pest and Disease Control

Handbook

1. INTRODUCTION

NATURALPEST AND DISEASECONTROL

HANDBOOK

1. INTRODUCTION

Plant pests and diseases are significant to farmers because they can cause damage to plants and plant

products. It is estimated that the home gardener can lose up to 25% of his crop if pests and diseases are

left uncontrolled. In some cases this figure might be 100%.

There are a number of methods available for controlling pests and diseases. The general belief amongst

farmers and extension workers is that synthetic chemicals (fungicides, bactericides and insecticides) are

the only way to manage pests and diseases in crops. These sprays give very impressive results in an

instant, but could result in serious problems in the longer term. Non target interactions, pollution and

resistance are common issues, as is the fact that many pesticides are extremely poisonous and can be

harmful to human beings, animals and the environment.

It is however possible to produce high-quality vegetables with sufficiently high yields, without using

these chemicals. At the same time, soil fertility and the quality of the environment can be improved.

The best approach to good vegetable production would be to try to avoid problems as far as possible,

instead of trying to cure them. The only way to avoid problems from occurring in your garden is to make

sure that the soil is healthy and that the environment that the plant is growing in is stable and balanced.

There are a number of things that should be kept in mind when trying to implement natural control in a

system:

Crop protection builds on traditional knowledge: developing and improving it.

Pesticides can be used, but only in cases of emergency.

Methods should be locally adapted, simple, inexpensive and easy to manage.

The small-scale farmer needs to understand correlations and act independently. S/he must be

the crop protection expert.

People must learn to use nature itself to help them in their struggle against pests and diseases.

2. ENEMIES OR FRIENDS

Plants, animals and micro-organisms can influence the productivity in your garden. About 99% of all

plants, animals and microorganisms are beneficial to agriculture and the general economy. It is only 1%

of all living creatures that causes so much trouble in gardens around the world. If left undisturbed,

natural enemies could mostly keep this troublesome 1% under control. Modern agriculture techniques

generally do not consider the relationship between organisms, or the balance between different

populations that keep pest explosions in check.

Small scale farmers may attempt to grow crops in poor soils under less than ideal conditions. Plants

stressed in this way are easily susceptible to pest and disease attack.

2.1 PLANTS

Unwanted plants are called weeds. Weeds can cause damage to crops in several ways:

They take up water and nutrients from the soil, in competition with the crop.

They can shade crops from the sun. Sunlight is very important for the growth of crop plants.

They can host insect pests that can damage the crops.

They can reduce the quality of the produce, e.g. weed seeds found in cotton would reduce the

price considerably.

Weeds aren’t always pests

They can be used to your advantage:

-Weeds can be slashed and used as a green manure to feed the soil.

-They cover the soil and can prevent soil erosion.

-They can attract and host very valuable beneficial insects (predators and parasites).

-They can act as wind breaks.

2.2 ANIMALS

These include large mammals, rodents, birds,

slugs and snails, insects and nematodes.

2.2.1 Large mammals

Buck, pigs, goats, cattle, rabbits, dogs and cats

are considered to be large mammals. If these

are not kept out of the garden they could

cause considerable damage.

Animal manure can bevery useful in

feeding the soil.

2. ENEMIES OR FRIENDS

2.2.2 Rodents

Rodents include mice, rats and mole

rats and moles. These animals can cause

damage to your crops and stored grain

and should be controlled.

2.2.3 Birds

Birds can be divided into two large groups: the

meat-eaters and the plant/seed eaters. The

plant/seed eating birds can damage your

crops by eating the seedlings, fruits and seeds

of the crop. Such birds are: crows, sparrows,

pigeons and finches.

Not all birds are pests

The meat-eating birds can be very beneficial in

your lands, as they will reduce the numbers of

insects and rodents in the crops. Such birds

are owls, swallows and hawks.

2.2.4 Slugs and snails

These creatures can cause considerable damage

to your crops if they are not controlled.

2.2.5 Insect Pests

Insect pests can be divided into two categories:

2. ENEMIES OR FRIENDS

Sap-sucking pests

Examples are aphids, scale insects, mealy bugs, leaf and plant

hoppers, whiteflies, thrips, mites and red spider mites.

Plant-eating/chewing pests

Examples are caterpillars (armyworms, leaf-miners,

cutworms), beetles, locusts and crickets.

Not all insects are pests

Some insects are beneficial to your crops, such as:

Bees that pollinate crops,

Predators that feed on insect pests (e.g. wasps) and

Insects that help to decompose organic material (e.g.

dung beetles).

2.2.6 Nematodes

Nematodes are very small worms that can hardly be seen

with the naked eye. These tiny worm-like creatures feed

mainly on the roots of plants. At first the damage will not be

noticed, but as the numbers of these little creatures increase,

the plants will decline and could eventually die.

Not all nematodes are harmful to plants.

Only a small percentage of nematodes are plant eaters, the

rest live on organic material in the soil or feed on small animals

in the soil.

2.3 MICRO-ORGANISMS

Micro-organisms are tiny creatures that can usually not be

observed with the naked eye. They can, however, be seen when they occur in large numbers. Micro-

organisms are responsible for diseases and can be classified as fungi, bacteria and viruses.

2. ENEMIES OR FRIENDS

2.3.1 Fungi

There are quite a variety of fungi that can influence

our lives. Fungi that cause plant diseases are usually

tiny parasitic organisms that grow on or inside plants.

A mass of these usually consists of tiny threads (called

hyphae), which infect the cells of the plant. Fungal

spores can disperse through the air or with water or

with the help of other organisms and cause new

infections. They can lie dormant in the soil for several

years, as sporing structures. Most fungi prefer moist,

warm weather. Fungi can be devastating in a crop.

Fungi cause diseases such as blights, mildews, and

certain root rots.

Fungi are not always disease causing.

Some fungi are very useful and even crucial for life on

earth. Some of these fungi are bigger and can be seen

with the naked eye. For example the mushrooms and

bracket fungi that are found on fallen trees. These fungi

help with the decomposition of the wood and the

nutrients in the wood are made available to other

organisms. Other fungi are used by ants and other

small insects as a food source.

2.3.2 Bacteria

Bacterial diseases are caused by minute

organisms that reproduce rapidly by division.

Bacterial diseases in plants are difficult to cure.

The best way to prevent serious damage is to

destroy affected plants. Bacteria cause diseases

such as soft rots and some leaf spots.

2.3.3 Viruses

Viruses are amongst the smallest of all living

organisms. They cannot be seen with the naked

eye. Only the symptoms can be seen on the

plants. Viruses cannot reproduce without the

help of another organism. They also need a

vector to infect a plant. Many sap-sucking insects

2. ENEMIES OR FRIENDS

act as vectors. Generally there are no cures for virus diseases and affected plants should be destroyed.

Not all micro-organisms are pests

Many species of micro-organisms can help plants by feeding them. Such beneficial micro-organisms are

encouraged by healthy soils.

2.4 DIAGNOSING PLANT PROBLEMS

Before symptoms can be treated it is important to have an idea of the

cause of the problem. Damage to plants can be caused by insects,

animals, micro-organisms, natural causes (such as drought and

nutritional disorders), or by chemical injury.

It is not always easy to identify the cause of a problem immediately

from visual symptoms. There are hundreds of causes of plant problems

and two or more of the causes might produce the same symptoms. A

single visual symptom can also be caused by a number of different

problems.

Identification of the cause of a particular symptom requires years of experience, but guidelines can be

given to make it easier.

2.4.1 Ways to identify insect damage

SYMPTOMS

CAUSE

Ragged leaves, holes in wood, fruit or seed. Mining

on leaves. Wilted or dead plants. The presence of

larvae

Chewing insects

Foliage and fruit are off-colour and sometimes a bit

distorted

Sucking insects removing sap and cell contents

from the plant and injecting toxins into the plant

Black sooty substance covering the leaves, twigs,

branches and fruit. The sooty cover can easily be

removed by rubbing the leaves.

Honeydew excreted by certain insects leads to

the growth of sooty mould. Leaves suffocate and

plants do not grow well.

Galls on leaves, twigs, buds and roots

Gall forming insects

Scars on stems, twigs, bark and fruit. Fruit is

sometimes infested with larvae

Insects laying their eggs in or on the plants.

The symptoms of

diseases are often

similar to nutrient

deficiencies and can

easily be confused.

It is important to

note that the

following are

rough guidelines.

2. ENEMIES OR FRIENDS

2.4.2 Ways to identify disease damage

SYMPTOMS

CAUSE

Wilting, root rots and stunting

Clogging of water-conducting cells of the plant

Blotching, scab, black spots on leaves

Destruction of the chlorophyll in the leaves

Unusual growths on flowers, twigs and roots

Gall forming bacteria that disrupt normal

cellular organization

Flower and seed rots

Fire blight and bacterial rots

Wilting, dwarfing and off-coloured foliage, usually

patchy in appearance, leaves become distorted

Viral diseases carried from one plant to another

by aphids and other sap sucking insects

Soft rotting of fruit, foul smelling.

Bacterial soft rots; usually in a wet environment

2.5 BlO-INDICATORS

Pests and diseases can be helpful in a way too. When these are spotted in the garden, they are

indicators that something is wrong. In order to fix the problem, you need to know what the indicator is

telling you. By just killing off the pests and diseases with chemicals, you will never fix the problem. The

solution would be to make the plant and its environment healthy enough to fix itself. Healthy plants

have a natural resistance against pests and diseases.

Weeds can also be used as bio indicators. They can tell us a lot about the soil

they are growing in. Weeds with very strong taproots indicate soil compaction.

The weeds grow there to break up the soil and improve the soil structure. Ferns

and Oxalis indicate acidic soils, while nutgrass and sedges indicate that there is

not enough air in the soil, because of compaction or water logging. Amaranthus

(shown alongside) indicates fertile soil with bad structure, but very rich in

nitrogen.. Weeds also take up minerals from the soil and keep them from

washing away or leaching into the soil. Blackjack has the ability to take up

nutrients that are not available to crop plants. If you take out the weeds from

your land and bum them or just throw them out, you are losing vital minerals.

Try to incorporate them back into the soil, so that the minerals can be used by

your crops.

3. CONTROL

3.1 THE CHOICE

Pests and diseases have been with us from the very beginning. We read about them in the Bible: moths,

ants, mosquitoes, rust, locusts, etc. The war against pests was declared about 10 000 years ago, when

we first got serious about agriculture. In those times the only means of controlling pests was

mechanically. Our ancestors probably used the sun, water, mud, ashes, salt and their bodies (hands, feet

and voice) to control these pests.

As humanity developed, so control methods developed. As a result we have access to highly

technological solutions such as specialised chemicals and hybrid and genetically modified plant varieties.

Because of all this new technology, many of the older methods of controlling pests have been forgotten

or neglected. The purpose of this book

is to make people aware of the

existence of these forgotten processes

and remedies to control pests.

Unlike our ancestors, we have a

choice today of how to control the

pests in our gardens. The choice lies

between chemical control and natural

control; or a combination of both.

3.2 CHEMICAL CONTROL

In this book chemical control will refer to synthetic

pesticides, which includes any pesticide that is man-

made in a chemical laboratory or factory.

Chemical control of agricultural pests originated during

the First World War. The chemicals that were discovered

and used were later introduced into agriculture to be

used to control pests.

Chemical control has its advantages. It is effective and

results can be expected almost immediately. In many

cases only the positive side of chemicals is shown tothe

farmers, and the farmers regard chemicals as a “quick

fix” to all their problems.

Many chemicals are not suitable for use by ordinary small-scale farmers, for the following reasons:

3. CONTROL

3.2.1 Chemicals are poisonous and dangerous

People are poisoned every year by pesticides. Even people who do not have direct contact with

pesticides are exposed to the health risks of pesticides:

Chemical residues on fruitand vegetables are takenin by humans and can build up in their

bodies.

Pesticides are known to accumulate in body fats and can be transferred to babies via mothers’

milk.

Some pesticides break down the melanin in the skin. This can lead to severe sunburn or skin

cancer.

Some pesticides become even more dangerous when cooked with

food.

They can destroy the liver and damage the kidneys.

They can cause breast cancer in women and reduce fertility in men.

They affect the nervous system of humans and can cause brain

damage.

Pesticides poison birds and useful insects. Pesticides can also contribute to the

pollution of air, soil and water. Some pesticides, especially herbicides, are only

registered for a few crops, and the carry-over can damage sensitive crops that

are planted in the following season.

3.2.2 Resistance to pesticides

Many pests and diseases have developed resistance to chemicals which are used on a regular basis,

making the chemicals ineffective. More research on the development of new chemicals then becomes

necessary. The problem gets worse every year.

3.2.3 Non-selectiveness of pesticides

A major disadvantage of all pesticides is their non-selectiveness. They do not only kill the targeted pests

but also beneficial insects and birds. Chemicals kill 99% of the pest population, but also kill about 99% of

the predators in the area. Beneficial insects include natural enemies of pests and diseases, pollinators

and scavengers that help to break down organic materials to be recycled into the system. After this

treatment the remaining 1% of the pest population will explode, because there are no natural enemies

to keep their numbers down. The predators will not increase in numbers rapidly, because their food

source has been cut off.

3.2.4 Chemicals are usually very expensive

To produce most pesticides, high technology and sometimes expensive processes are needed and this

makes the final product very expensive to buy. In many cases chemicals are over-used. People spray

“justin case”. This can be very expensive in the long run, especially if’ it was not necessary, in which case

it will not be economically viable.

3. CONTROL

3.2.5 Chemicals are not always readily available to small-scale farmers

Many chemicals are only sold by big chemical companies, and might not be accessible to small-scale

farmers in rural areas.

3.2.6 Illiteracy among small-scale farmers

Most pesticides are supplied with written instructions. These instructions are often complicated and

poorly understood. The actual application of the chemicals and the calibration of the equipment also

requires a high degree of skill. If pesticides are

applied at the wrong dosage or incorrectly, they

can cause severe losses in yield for the farmer.

3.2.7 Many chemicals are available in large

containers, only

Most chemicals are directed at the commercial

market and so the packaging is done in bulk, for

sale to the commercial farmers. The small-scale

farmer cannot buy in bulk and if he did, would not

use all of it.

3.2.8 Most pesticides need to be applied with special

equipment

Some of the equipment needed to apply the pesticide

efficiently is expensive, hard to come by or difficult to use by

the farmer himself.

3.2.9 Safe storage

The lack of suitable safe storage space for chemicals in rural

areas is a further problem, creating a serious health hazard

for the community.

3.2.10 Slow breakdown in the soil

Some chemicals have a very slow breakdown rate in soils. If only applied once in an area, it can take

many years to break down and get out of the system. If chemicals are used on a regular basis, the effect

is synergistic, and many problems can be created.

3.2.11 No chemical is perfect

No chemical will give you a hundred percent control under all conditions. The weather can play quite an

important role in the effectiveness of the chemical sprayed. Only about 2% of all insecticides sprayed

onto crops finds its target. The rest will be wasted and will just pollute the water and soil.

Pesticides cannot be ignored, and they will not go away. We are heading for the 21st century, so

chemical control has been integrated into our everyday lives in the form of insecticides and other

pesticides. There are also times when the pest problem gets too big to be handled with natural control

and, in this case, chemical control will be the only option.

3. CONTROL

3.3 NATURAL CONTROL

Natural control is the control of pests and diseases without the use of synthetic chemicals.

Natural control includes:

Cultural methods - preventing disease and pest damage by using certain cultural methods.

Physical control methods - barriers, traps and artificial guards

Biological control methods - encouraging the natural enemies of the pests and diseases

Botanical remedies - mixtures made from plant material to control pests and diseases.

Organic remedies - mixtures made from organic material to control pests and diseases.

Natural methods of pest management

are based on making the best use of

systems in nature. The idea is that

farmers use the resources available to

them, to fight pests and diseases.

Natural control starts by building a

healthy soil. If the soil is healthy, the

plants will be strong and they will

resist diseases far better.

Natural control methods do not

always get rid of the pests completely,

but can reduce their numbers, and

their ability to damage the crops.

3.4 IS IT POSSIBLE TO PRODUCE QUALITY CROPS WITHOUT CHEMICALS?

The key to producing good quality crops is to keep the plants healthy. Plants are just like people, if they

are fed well and supplied with all the necessary minerals, they will be healthy and relatively disease free.

Plants get their minerals from the soil, so it is important to feed the soil and to ensure that all the

elements needed for healthy plants are present in the soil in a form that can be taken up by the plants.

It is also important to realise that the soil hosts a wide range of microorganisms, which are crucial in

keeping the soil environment healthy. In a forest, the top 15 cm of soil contains 5 to 20 tons of living

creatures per hectare. The micro-organisms in the soil help to break down organic material and make

nutrients available to plants. If the soil micro-organisms are in a healthy balance, they keep the disease-

causing micro-organisms under control, so that they will not increase in such numbers that they will be a

threat to crops. The more life there is in the soil, the more fertile the soil will be. Chemicals kill the life in

the soil.

4 PREVENTION

Prevention is always better than cure. By creating a healthy environment, you will not have serious

problems with pests and diseases. It is possible to create a pest disease-discouraging environment. The

following methods should help with this:

Garden sanitation

Timing of planting

Plant spacing

Mixed cropping

Correct plant feeding

Resistant or tolerant varieties of plants

Cultivation methods

Protecting crops with other plants

4.1 GARDEN SANITATION

By removing infected plant material, the chance of disease spread is reduced. Infested crop residues can

be burned (although this loses valuable organic matter), or used in compost heaps (as long as they are

hot enough to kill the disease causing organisms).

Try not to walk on infested soil and then on a new, clean land. The soil clinging to your boots or feet can

carry the disease causing organism to the new field and other crops can be infected.

When working with infected plants, clean your hands and the implements used in the infected field,

before moving on to a new area. Implements, boots and your hands can spread several of the diseases

from one plant to another. Do not wash your hands in the same water that is used to water the plants.

You will spread diseases.

4.2 TIMING OF PLANTING

Many pests and diseases can be avoided by planting crops when the pests and diseases are dormant or

relatively inactive. This is called escape cropping. Generally, cold weather reduces pest and disease

activity. It is important to know if the crops can survive the cold, if this method is to be used.By knowing

the pest’s life cycle, one can partially prevent trouble with pests. Early planting and the use of fast

maturing varieties are well known strategies for endemic pests to an area. Early cultivation of seedlings

also gives the crop an advantage over weeds.

It is also important to plant crops in the season that they prefer. Planting crops out of season places

them under stress and makes them more susceptible to pest attacks and diseases.

4 PREVENTION

4.3 PLA NT SPACING

Plant spacing can make a big difference, especially in the case of

diseases. Most diseases like wet conditions. If plants are sown

too close together, the incidence of certain diseases can be

increased or favoured.

4.3 MIXED CROPPING

Crops can be inter-cropped to gain advantages such as sharing

of:

Nutrients through different uptake by different crop

types.

Space above the ground. Different crops have different growth habits , some growing closer to

the ground some growing taller and can share space in this way.

Space below the ground. Different crops have different shapes and sizes of root systems and can

thus easily share space underground

Sunlight. Some crops are shade tolerant and need cooler conditions than others and can be

planted under the partial canopies of larger crops.

4.4 CORRECT PLANT FEEDING

Pests tend to attack weak plants. It is claimed that plants

grown on rich organic soils are more healthy and less

attractive to pests. One of the most important minerals that

helps prevent attack from pests and diseases is calcium. This

mineral reinforces the cell walls in the plant itself, thus

making it more difficult to be penetrated by insects and

diseases.

4.4.1 Natural fertilizers

Composted plant wastes

Animal manure

Green manure

Earthworms

Composted plant wastes

Compost is the best organic fertilizer, because it contains all

16 elements or plant nutrients in the proper amounts.

Compost discourages a number of diseases and it balances

the soil by neutralizing it. If diseased materials are composted

well, they are safe to use in the garden, as disease-causing

An old gardener’s way of

getting rid of potato scab was

to incorporate grass clippings in

the soil. The increase in organic

matter increased the hyper-

parasitic and competitive fungi

and led to a lower incidence of

disease in the soil

How to make a compost heap

Dig out a square in the soil. Put layers of

coarse plant material at the bottom of the

hole for drainage and air circulation.

Make layers with plant material and soil and

bone meal and cover the top with soil. Put

some hay right at the top of the heap. This

will ensure that the heap won’t dry out.

Turn compost heaps on a regular basis to

ensure good composting throughout the

heap. Leave to compost.

Compost can be used as a mulch as well. A

mulch is very effective in keeping the soil

moist and in restricting weeds.

4 PREVENTION

organisms will be killed. Composting will kill some weed seeds, but not all. Compost or humus in the soil

also:

Generates porous soils and stabilizes soil structure;

Helps retain water in the soil and prevents nutrients from leaching out of the soil;

Prevents soil loss from wind and water erosion;

Generates high levels of beneficial soil organisms, especially earthworms;

Regulates soil temperature; and

Opens up small channels for seedling roots to follow into the soil.

Animal manure

Fresh manure should never be applied. Only well-composted well matured

manure should be used. Fresh manure does not have nutrients in plant-

available forms and it must first be decomposed in the soil before the

nutrients become available. If manure is left in a heap to decompose, keep it

covered with straw or any other organic material. If not covered, the manure

can loose up to 70% of its nitrogen content before it is applied to the crops.

Horse (and mule and donkey) manure and sheep (and goat) manure contain

a lot more of the three main plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and

potassium) than cattle and pig manure. Tests were done on the use of

composted material containing mainly horse manure and straw bedding. The

results concluded that the watery extracts of the compost reduced the

disease incidence of powdery mildews on barley and cucumbers and late

blight on tomato leaves. It seems that live micro-organisms in the compost

are the “active ingredient” that reduces the disease incidence on the plants.

Green manuring

Green manuring can improve the soil structure, water retention and

improve soil fertility. The following plants are commonly used as green

manures: Sunnhemp, oats, mustard spinach or fodder radish and

legumes such as clover, vetch and lucerne (shown alongside).

It is also possible to use weeds, and other plant materials as mulches.

Here organic matter is left on top

of the soil so that it can

decompose naturally with the help

of bacteria and fungi. Comfrey for

example (shown alongside) is also

a good source of minerals and

specifically potassium (K).

4 PREVENTION

Earthworms

Normal digging of the soil can help with the drainage and

aeration of the soil. There are natural diggers in the soil-

earthworms. They can dig just as well or even better than

humans can dig with tools. Ploughing with tractors and hoes

can kill many of these natural diggers and will compact the

soil.

A way of increasing the fertility of the soil is to add

earthworms to it. Earthworms serve several vital functions,

including:

Breaking down dead organic matter in the soil.

Burrowing and moving under the soil, thus naturally

aerating the soil.

Providing a source of nutrients to other

organisms when they die.

It is also possible and well worth while to farm with

earth worms to create vermin-compost and vermi-

compost liquid manure for use in gardens (shown

alongside).The worms create compost from the

organic matter, including kitchen scraps, crop residues,

manure or almost any other organic material.

4.5 RESISTANT OR TOLERANT VARIETIES OF PLANTS

In nature it is the law that the fittest will survive. Weak plants are eliminated by pests and diseases. In

traditional farming systems, farmers saved the seeds from the best plants in the crop to use for the next

season. By doing this the farmers speeded up the natural selection process of nature. They also selected

the best varieties for their specific area. Plants adapt to the environment they are grown in and produce

Making vermi-compost

To start, use any dark container with a

drainage hole at the bottom. Place a layer of

stones and paper at the bottom. Fill around

half the container with grass, manure,

kitchen scarps and other organic matter.

Place the worms in the container and

continue to fill. Make sure this mixture

remains moist and continue to ‘feed’ the

wormery on a weekly basis. In time

everything will be reduced to thick crumbly

humus. The worms move to the top of the

bin/container and the humus can be

removed from the bottom, with a few

worms, and used in garden beds.

4 PREVENTION

seeds that carry those local adaptations, producing healthier plants that are better able to cope with

the local environment.

Seed saving can have disadvantages as well. Seed-borne diseases can be carried over from one season

to the next by this practice.

Using modem techniques, the yields of crops can be improved through cross-breeding or hybridization.

Plant varieties are manipulated to cross, so that specific characteristics such as resistance to drought or

a particular disease for example become evident. These varieties generally would not cross in nature.

These plants are also usually bred to grow optimally with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as

irrigation and will not perform as well without them. They can however still be very useful in a

gardening situation. Resistance to bacterial wilt for example is one of the few ways to deal with this

devastating and long lasting

soil borne disease of crops

such as potatoes, tomatoes

and cucurbits

Right: Symptoms of bacterial

wilt shown alongside for

tomato and cucumber from

Google images.

4.6 CULTIVATION METHODS

Cultivation practices include tillage, crop rotation and mulching.

4.6.1 Tillage

Tillage modifies the soil structure and aerates the soil. By tilling the soil, pests are brought to the surface

of the soil where they can shrivel in the sun or be eaten by birds.

Warning: Tillage can also increase soil erosion and compact the soil.

4.6.2 Crop rotation

Crop rotation is the best method to control soil-borne diseases. Crop rotation will reduce the build-up of

diseases on a particular crop.

Species with few or no pests in common should be chosen (for example, crops from different plant

families). This measure is of crucial importance for the control of soil-borne diseases and pests, such as

nematodes.

4 PREVENTION

If crops like sunflower, sorghum and other small grain crops are planted and the residues, after

harvesting, are left on the surface to decompose they release natural herbicides called allelochemicals

that can be very useful in weed control. Cover crops also suppress the growth of weeds.

Rotations can improve soil fertility, as different families add and subtract different things in their

growing cycle. Legumes add nitrogen to the soil, while potatoes break up the soil, and leave their fibrous

roots behind, opening up the soil structure.

Commercial farmers are beginning to see the value of crop rotation and they are getting higher yields in

their crops, especially when maize is planted in a field where legumes (such as soya beans) have been

growing for a season.

A four year rotation for vegetable crops is advisable. This system is shown below.

4 PREVENTION

4.6.3 Mulching

Mulching is the process of covering the bare soil with organic matter. Mulches are beneficial to plants as

they maintain uniform soil temperature and keep moisture in the soil. Mulches also add nutrients to the

soil .

If mulch (grass and other organic material) is

spread 15cm thick between vegetables it will keep

weeds down and will also help to keep the soil

moist. In this case you will not have to water the

garden as often as was needed before mulching.

Mulching can protect the soil against rainwater-

splash.

It also acts as organic fertilizer when it breaks

down. Less erosion will occur when a mulch is

used.

Right: Well mulched and terraced vegetable beds,

Mahlathini Organics, 2010)

4.7 PROTECTING CROPS WITH OTHER PLANTS

Plants can be protected from insects and other pests by other plants.

4.7.1 Interplanting

Interplanting, also referred to as intercropping, mixed cropping or

multiple cropping, is when many different crops are grown in a mixed

fashion on the same piece of land.

There are a number of reasons why intercropping systems are a good method of crop protection:

Little

evaporation

High

infiltration

Weed control

Soil organisms

Good soil structure

Plants growing in thick mulch

will have shallower roots and

roots closer to the soil

surface. So, a crop planted

with mulch needs to be kept

mulched for it’s growing

season to avoid stress.

4 PREVENTION

Plants in a monoculture are more susceptible to pests and diseases. When plants are grown in

mixed fashion, the smells and shapes of the crops are disguised and insects are not attracted to

the field. Diseases attack specific crops, so if different plants are grown next to one another it

restricts the spread of diseases. Insect pests and diseases spread more slowly in intercropping

systems

Right: Mixed cropping cabbages, onions and chilies have

been planted in the same bed (Potshini, KZN, 2008).

When space is optimally used by ground cover

and crops with dense foliage, the weed

population is reduced or weakened and

diseases cannot spread by soil splashing onto

the leaves of the crops.

Windbreaks can also help to reduce the spread

of diseases by trapping insect pests or acting as

preferential hosts.

A good mix of plants encourages a healthy

variety of insect life, and natural enemies of the

pest species are attracted to the garden.

Inter planting sometimes involves

planting alternating rows of

vegetables, herbs and green

manure plants (such as vetch,

lupins, faba beans and lucerne), so

that the different plant varieties

reinforce each other, while

providing enhanced protection

against pests and diseases.

Strips of natural vegetation around

crops can encourage predators that

will help in keeping the pest

population tinder control.

4 PREVENTION

4.7.2 Companion planting

Companion planting is the practice of planting specific

plants that support each other together. This refers to

combinations of crop-producing plants that grow better

and are relatively free from pests and diseases.

Companion plants stimulate the growth of other plants

and help protect each other from insect and disease

attack.

Right: an intercrop of companions; cabbage, spring onion

and beetroot.

Complex physical and chemical interactions occur, which

may be difficult to explain fully. One of the physical

interactions could be that plants with deep roots loosen up

compact soil to allow plants with smaller roots to increase

their nutritional catchment areas.

Below: An intercrop of lines planted to beetroot, tomatoes

and carrots. Tree tomatoes at the left hand side of the

picture act as a windbreak and pest deterrent. (Gogela, EC,

2010.)

Many plants have very good insect-repellant properties.

Often they are strong-smelling plants, like onions, garlic

and some herbs. Their smell masks that of the vulnerable

crop.

Herbs, medicinal plants and multi-functional plants should

be planted around the garden. They will bring colour and

attract beneficial insects to your garden. Flowers attract

many beneficial insects and also function as crop guards,

especially when attracting predators.

4.7.3 Trap cropping

Marigolds

Marigolds are known to reduce root-

knot nematode populations.

If marigolds are inter planted with

tomatoes, the tomatoes are protected

from nematodes as the plant exudes

allelopathic substances from it’s roots.

The leaves and flowers are also pest

deterrents and will reduce red spider

mite incidence in tomatoes.

They also attract natural enemies or

pest predators such as wasps.

4 PREVENTION

Some plants are favoured as a host by the pest involved.

They can be deliberately planted to repel the pest from

the crop.

The catch crop must be destroyed by composting or

burning when it becomes severely infested. Milkweed,

sow thistle and nightshade(shown alongside) are

favoured by aphids.

This strategy does not apply to diseases. If a

certain plant is vulnerable to diseases, it should

be removed and destroyed.

4.8 WHERE TO START

Step 1: Feed the soil

Add organic matter to the soil –compost, manure, bone meal and other organic matter

Mulch- cover the surface of soil between crops by mulching or green manuring.

Use vermin-compost and earthworms

Step 2: Create habitats for insect predators

Plant trees and herbs in and around the garden.

Natural vegetation in and around gardens can house many beneficial insects.

Create micro-habitats using multi-purpose plants, small ponds, rocks and logs.

Step 3: Plant diversity

Replace mono-cropping with inter-planting practices.

Companion planting.

Use crop rotations.

Step 4: Reduce the use of chemicals

Use fewer pesticides, while building up your garden to the stage where no more chemicals will be

needed. Do not stop using chemicals right away if you were dependent on them for a good crop.

Replace chemical fertilisers with organic fertilisers before removing all pesticides. It takes a while for the

natural balance to return to your garden.

/5 BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL

5 BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL

5.1 BENEFICIAL INSECTS

A relatively small number of insects can be regarded as pests.

The majority of insects are harmless or do insignificant damage

to crops.

Some insects are beneficial to the farmer in various ways. It is

important to encourage the activities of these beneficial

insects.

The beneficial insects can be divided into three major

categories:

5.1.1 Natural enemies

Many insects eat other insects that are possible pests of crops.

In this way the numbers of the pest insects are kept down.

These insects include:

Dragonflies - Feed on insects and worms.

Mantids - Feed on insects.

Ground beetles - Some species feed on aphids and caterpillars,

snails, fly larvae, eggs or pupae, white others are vegetarian,

living on seeds or green plants.

Ladybirds - Feed on aphids, leafhoppers, plant hoppers, scale

insects and mites.

Lacewings - The adults and the larvae prey upon many pest

species such as: plant hoppers, leafhoppers, aphids, scale

insects, larvae of moths and mites.

Ant-lions - Feed on small crawling insects trapped in their pits.

Maggots of hover flies - Feed on aphids. The flies feed on

pollen and nectar.

Robber flies - Feed on small flying insects and small

grasshoppers.

Parasitic wasps - Parasites of pest species like caterpillars. They

can also parasitise the eggs of pest species.

Robber fly

Lady bird

Dragonfliy

Praying mantid

Lacewing

/5 BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL

Advantages of biological control

The agent targets the pest species and are non-toxic to

other species and to human beings.

Once the population of biological control agents are

established, it normally retains itself.

The development of genetic resistance is minimised,

because the pest and the predator develops together.

Disadvantages of biological control

Biological agents are slow to react. You will not get

immediate protection from pests.

Predators will have to be protected from pesticides

sprayed elsewhere, because most pesticides kill all insects.

5.1.2 Pollinators

Bees are the main pollinators, but insects like butterflies,

moths, several fly species and some wasps can also assist in the

pollination process.

5.1.3 Scavengers

Some insects live on dead organic material and help in the

breakdown of plant debris in compost heaps and in gardens.

Animal wastes and dead animal tissue are also broken down in

this manner, e.g. dung beetles.

5.2 ENCOURAGING PREDATORS

It is important to recognize other predators of insects as well.

The encouragement of predators can help control pests and

diseases. A soil with a good structure can host a number of beneficial soil organisms.

Birds - Some birds feed on insects and can help in protecting

your crop. Seed-eating birds willdamage your crop.

Chickensfeed on insects, but can damage seedlings.

Hover fly

Parasitic wasp

Bee

Diadem butterfly

Chameleon

/5 BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL

Geese are used for weeding of orchards. They will eat fruit that has dropped from the trees, preventing

them from rotting and contaminating other fruit.

Chameleons - Feed on insects that can damage your crops.

Lizards - Predators of insects.

Frogs are good for controlling insect pests.

Snakes eat rodents and insects.

Spiders eat insects. The majority of spiders are harmless to

human beings and they can be very helpful in keeping pests

away.

Spider

6 PHYSICAL CONTROL METHODS

This is the use of physical methods to

prevent or control the outbreak of pests or

diseases. Physical control methods include

barriers, traps and artificial guards. Some

physical crop protection methods are still in

use, but are mostly not regarded as

important. Fly traps and sticky yellow insect

traps are commonly used and very effective.

Right: A home made fly and fruit fly trap and

Far right; a sticky yellow insect trap.

6.1 PROTECTIVE BORDERS AND BARRIERS

Set up boards about 10cm high around your crop and paint them with fuel or oil,

or use bands made of cloth or board on larger stems or trees. These boards or

bands will discourage crawling insects from getting into the crop.

A tin can open at bothends, or toilet roll centers, can be placed over seedlings as

collars to keep cutworms away from the seedlings. They should be pushed firmly

into the soil (Shown alongside).

6.2 TRAPS

Snail and slug traps

Stale beer in a shallow plate or container, dug into the

ground. The slug or snail will crawl into the liquid and

drown. Other liquids containing yeast will also act as

baits.

An inverted cabbage leaf placed on the ground will

attract snails, slugs, cutworms and other pests that hide

during the day and forage at night.

Right: A beer trap for snails and slugs.

Ants can be lured into containers baited with sugar water, fats or

any other food residue.

Grasshoppers are attracted by all kinds of scents: citrus fruit,

lemon or vanilla extracts, beer, vinegar, salt, soap and smoke.

6 PHYSICAL CONTROL METHODS

Cockroaches can be trapped by greasing the inner neck of a bottle baited with a raw potato or stale

beer.

Some flying insects can be attracted by light. Red, orange and yellow lights are avoided or ignored by

almost all insects.

Aphids, wasps and all kind of flies are attracted to the colour yellow. A trap can be made with a shallow

yellow-painted bowl, filled with soapy water.

Many insects are attracted to different colours. Try experimenting with

different colours. The collected pests can provide food for fish and chickens.

Rodents can be trapped in several ways. It is important to place the traps in

the regular paths of the rodents, and they must be attractive to the rodents,

so that they will investigate and not avoid the trap.

Rodents can be trapped and drowned when a large bucket is dug into the soil

and almost filled with water. About 3 cm below the top edge a line of peanut

butter is smeared. The animals fall into the trap and drown when trying to eat

the peanut butter.

6.3 ARTIFICIAL GUARDS

Black cotton threads can be used to scare birds away from crops. The threads

should be spread wide and loosely between the branches of fruit trees or around

crops. The birds will fly into the threads and be scared away, without being

trapped.

Scarecrows, cans and aluminium foil strips on strings,, as well as old cds’ can be

very effective in scaring birds and other animals away shown alongside). Care

should be taken to move them on a regular basis so that the animals don’t get

used to them.

Rodents and seed-eating birds can be scared by cutting out cardboard

silhouettes of owls or other birds of prey and suspending them over the

ground by attaching them to a rope and on top of a high pole. The shadow is

cast on the ground and is mistaken for the real thing (shown alongside).

Other physical control methods

Burning of infected plant material, ploughing back, etc., can be regarded as

physical control.

6 PHYSICAL CONTROL METHODS

Pupated maize stalk borers can be destroyed by

making animal feed or fuel out of the maize stalks.

Stored beans can be protected by storing them in

sand.

Weeds should be slashed before they flower to

reduce reproduction by seeds.

Ants can be controlled by constantly destroying

their nests and re-mixing the soil.

Hot water seed treatment to eliminate seed

borne diseases

Seed can be treated using the following

process:

- Place 250g of seed in a cotton back

-Soak the seed for 30 seconds in cold water

and for 20 minutes in water heated to and

maintained at 50°C (just too hot to touch)

-Cool the seed in fresh cold water

-Spread immediately in the shade to dry

Most plant material such as bulbs, rhizomes,

tubers and cuttings can be treated in this way

to reduce or eliminate disease.

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1 REMEDIES MADE FROM PLANT MATERIAL

In this chapter a few recipes for plant mixtures are given that can be used to control insects and

diseases. Be sure to read the warnings, where present, carefully. No responsibility will be taken for

damage to plants, animals, people or property.

Spraying with herbal poisons or plant teas can control pests and diseases to a large extent. Some of the

most widely used insecticides originally came from plants. The flowers, leaves, or roots have been finely

ground and used in this form, or the toxic

ingredients have been extracted and used alone or in

mixtures with other toxicants. The active chemical

from the plant was then identified and reproduced

as a synthetic chemical in the laboratory and sold as

a chemical. These synthetic chemicals have the same

properties as the natural chemicals but do not break

down as easily as the natural chemicals and can thus

damage the environment.

Another advantage of natural or organic remedies is

that they are cheap. But it must be realized that

some organic remedies are as poisonous as some

chemicals and that some chemicals are less

poisonous than some of the organic remedies.

Many plants with control possibilities are known and

probably many others are yet to be discovered.

Leaves of many strong-smelling, bitter-tasting plants

like gums, lantana, khaki weed, tomato or any other

herbs have great potential for insect sprays. Plants

that do not get attacked while in among affected

plants are also potential remedies.

At least 3000 plant species have already been

studied in laboratories to determine their

effectiveness for controlling plant pests and

diseases. Of these, approximately 1800 plants have

been shown to be more or less effective against

certain pests.

General points regarding aromatic plant

sprays

Sprays can be made up from the chopped up

leaves of different strong smelling plants.

Plants like garlic, chilli and onion work well.

The sprays have to be re-applied after rain or

irrigation as they are washed off with water

Green bar soap can be added to make the

spray stick to the plants and the insects

Generally the sprays are made up in 1 liter of

water. They are diluted from there; 1 part

solution to four parts water before being

applied

Most botanical insecticides are contact

poisons. Spraying has to be done rather

intensively to ensure all insects have been

covered by the spray.

Sunlight breaks down the sprays, so they

should be prepared and stored out of direct

sunlight

Some crops are damaged by sap from other

plants and it is possible for some of these

remedies to ‘burn’ the leaves of plants they

are applied to. Always test a new remedy on a

small number of plants first

For most applications against insects the best

time of day to spray is in the late afternoon

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1.1 Agave (Agave spp.)

Other names

English: American agave, invading agave, sisal

Afrikaans: Garingboom

Plant description

Large plant with big fleshy leaves growing in a rosette

from the base of the plant. The plant has a pale grey-

green colour. The leaves are thick and heavy and contain

tough fibers. The plant itself can grow up to 2m high and a

flowering pole is produced that can be as high as 5-9m. The flowers are pale yellow. This plant is an

invader in South Africa.

Targets

Insects in general.

Method

Crush plant parts in water, (1 part plant material to five parts water or less) and use as a field spray.

Leaves can also be cut and boiled and cooled before the extract is sprayed.

Dry and grind plant parts for dusting.

7.1.2 Aloe (Aloe spp.)

Other names

Afrikaans: Aalwyn

Zulu: Umhlaba, inhlaba, isikutsha, unhlabana

Plant description

Succulent plant with a single upright stem. There are a

number of different species that differ considerably in

height and growth habit. The edges of the thick leaves

are covered in thorns and sometimes the surfaces of the

leaves as well. Flowers are small, orange to yellow and are carried in plumes. The plant has a very bitter

taste. Aloes are very abundant in KwaZulu-Natal.

Targets

Insects in general: pests in stored grain and termites (Shown alongside).

Method

Crush plant parts in water, (1 part plant material to five parts water or less)

and use as a field spray. Or boil and cool before spraying.

Dry and grind materials for dusting.

Termites

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1.3 Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.)

Other names

English: Pigweed

Afrikaans: Misbredie, rooikatstert

Zulu: Imbuya

Plant description

Upright, annual weed. Stems are rough and can have a red tinge.

Flowers are very small and carried in a spike on the growing tips. Flowers

can be red or green in colour. Plants can grow up to 2m high. This plant

is used and sold as a spinach. If cattle eat large quantities of this plant,

they may be poisoned and die.

Targets

Various fungi, such as:

Alternaria - fruit rot, early blight, purple blotch, leaf spot.

Right: Alternaria symptoms on cabbage(above and

tomato(below) In tomatoes it is known as late blight

Cercospora - leaf mould, leaf spot, early blight, frog-eye

Colletotrichurn - leaf spot, anthracnose, fruit rot, smudge.

Curvularia - leaf spot, leaf blight.

Helminthosporium - leaf blight.

Pestalotia - leaf spot.

Method

Extract the juice of 1 kg leaves, then mix the juice with 3 litres

of water and use as a spray.

7.1.4 Basil (Ocimurn basilicum)

Other names

English: Sweet basil

Afrikaans: Basiliekruid

Zulu: Amakha

Plant description

Herbaceous plant with light green leaves, sometimes with a

purple tinge on the underside. Whitish flowers are produced. A

delightful smell is released when the leaves are bruised.

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

Targets

Insects in general: flies, mosquitoes, aphids, cockroaches,

cotton strainers, mites and ticks.

Fungi in general.

Method

The oil of this plant has been used to control pests in fields and

buildings. Various extracts can be prepared from dried and

powdered leaves, flowers or the entire plant. Whole plants, when dried, can act as

an insect repellent. Dusting powder can be made by drying the leaves in the sun.

Soak crushed leaves in water for 24 hours, filter and spray, or drench the soil before planting. Basil is

traditionally used for treating seedbeds against all kinds of soil-borne diseases and pests.

7.1.5 Blackjack (Bidens pilosa)

Other names

English: Common blackjack

Afiikaans: Gewone knapsekérel, wewenaar

Zulu: Amalenjane, uqadolo, ucucuza

Plant description

Annual weed. Flowers are white with yellow centers. Seeds are small, black

and slender with little claws on one end. These seeds can stick to your clothes

or to an animal’s fur.

Targets

Insects in general: aphids, ants, beetles, cabbage root fly,

caterpillars, crickets, mites, termites and whitefly.

Method

All the plant parts can be used, but in particular the mature seeds.

Cover a cupful of mature seeds with water, boil for 10 min (or soak

for 24 hours), cool, add 1 litre of water and a teaspoon of soap and

spray immediately.

Seeds can be spread around bushes to deter termites. If this method

is used the plants can get out of hand, creating a weed problem.

Cotton stainers

Beetle; Emerald

fruit chafer

Aphids

Warning

High concentrations may affect the flowers

of some plants.

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1.6 Black pepper (Piper nigrum)

Other names

Afrikaans: Swartpeper

Zulu: Uphepha, upelepele

Plant description

Fruits are small and round and carried in spikes. Colour of seeds changes

from green to black or red. The seeds have a spicy taste.

Targets

Insects: cotton stainers,

diamond back moths, cutworms

and maize weevils.

Right: typical diamond back

moth damage on cabbage

Method

Crush the seeds, mix with water and spray.

The powder can also be spread around stored grains.

7.1.7 Cassava (Manihot esculenta)

Other names

Afrikaans: Kassawe, broodwortel

Zulu: Indumbula, umdumbula

Plant description

Shrub-like plant that can grow up to 2 m high. Leaves are dark

green and shiny. The leaves are lobed and have about 6 fingers per

leaf. This plant produces big fleshy

roots that are very rich in starch. The

leaves are rich in protein.

Targets

Nematodes and aphids.

Method

Obtain juice by crushing roots, dilute 1:1 with water, spray immediately, using 4 litres diluted extract per

square metre. Wait 20 days before sowing and then use cassava peelings as a mulch against nematodes.

The starchy extract after boiling cassava can be used on aphids.

Diamond back moth

Plant nematode

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1.8 Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis)

Other names

Afrikaans: Kaster-olie boom, bloubottel boom

Zulu: Inhlakuva, udlatshana, umhlakuva, umhlafutho

Plant description

Annual shrub or small tree. It is an invader in South Africa. It can grow

up to 4m tall. The leaves are dark green and shiny, with a reddish

tinge. The leaves are divided into five to nine lobes or fingers. Flowers

are cream to reddish in colour. The fruit are green, brown or reddish and covered in soft spines.

Targets

Insects in general: aphids, leaf cutting ants, caterpillars, cutworms,

mites, stink bugs, termites, fleas, lice, ticks and storage insect

pests.

Fungi: Anthracnose, brown patch, damping

off root rot,

Colletorichum,

Fusarium spp.,

Rhizoctonia.

Right; Fusarium wilt symptoms on tomato

Far right; Rhizoctonia sclerotia on potato

tubers

Nematodes.

Moles and rats.

Method

As a general spray, soak green seeds, leaves and roots in water for 24 hours, filter and spray or drench

the soil. It is also effective against human and animal ecto-parasites like fleas and lice.

Dry seeds and leaves and grind for dusting powder. Varieties with

red stems are said to be more effective than those with green

stems.

For cutworm: put 4 cups of crushed shelled seeds into 2 litres of

water, boil for 10 minutes, add 2 teaspoons of paraffin and some

soap, dilute to 10 litres and water immediately into the soil.

Growing plants can be protected against ground-dwelling nematodes. By digging seeds or leaves into

the soil some fungal diseases will be killed. This works very well if the soil is treated in this way 3 weeks

before planting. Mulch with branches and leaves to repel termites.

Citrus caterpillar

Cutworm

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

The oil of the caster-oil plant

is used for protection of

stored peas and beans against

storage pests nad weevils, by

mixing it with the seeds to be

protected. Five to 10 ml per

kg are sufficient to ensure

good protection for 4 to 6

months. No effects have been experienced by people or animals that

ate food treated in this way. Put green seeds into mole holes or rat

nests as an effective repellant.

7.1.9 Chilli (Capsicum frutescens)

Other names

English: Hot pepper

Aftikaans: Rissie

Zulu: Ibelebile, upelepele

Plant description

Small shrub-like plant with a shiny leaf. Bears small red

fruit with a very strong, stinging taste.

Targets

Insects in general: aphids, ants, cabbage worms,

caterpillars, cutworms, rice moths and storage insect

pests.

Slugs and snails.

Fungi and bacteria in general.

Viruses: Cucumber Mosaic Virus (shown alongside) and

ringspot virus.

Method

Grind 2 handfuls of ripe chilli pods, soak in 1 litre of

water for 1 day. Shake well for a few minutes, filter, and

add 5 litres of water and a little soap. Sieve and spray.

Chilli powder can be applied around the base of plants to

repel ants, cutworm, slugs, snails, and a wide range of soil pests. Chillies are often planted as a repellant.

Warning

Seeds are poisonous to

human beings, and

poultry ten seeds can be

fatal to and adults and

even one seed can be

fatal to a child.

No adverse effects have

been noted for the oil

from the castor oil plant.

Bean weevil

Slugs

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1.10 Citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus)

Other names

Afrikaans: Tamboekiegras

Zulu: Isicunge, isiqunga, iwozawoza,

usukasihamba, umtshiki

Plant description

Perennial grass that is aromatic, similar to lemon grass. It

grows in temperate and tropical areas and can grow up

to 2 metres high.

Targets

Insects: storage pests, cockroaches, mosquitoes, fruit

flies and various human and animal ecto-parasites.

Fungi: Aspergillus niger (shown alongside) and

Macrophomina phaseolina.

Bacteria: Erwinia carotovora.

Method

Crops can be protected from fungal and bacterial

diseases by spraying them with the oil of C. nardus.

The oil of this plant also has a strong repellent effect on

mosquitoes, cockroaches, human and animal ecto-

parasites, etc. It has a strong attractant effect on fruit

flies. This property could be used to lure the pests into

glue-coated traps.

Warning

Leaves of crops can be burned if the mixture is too strong. Avoid contact with eyes and skin as this can

result in severe irritation.

Only use disease free chilli plants, otherwise the viruses or other organisms can be passed on to the

plant being sprayed.

Fruit flies

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1.11 Finger millet (Eleusine coracane)

Plant description

This is a small grain crop with grass like leaves. Grains are

carried in fingers at the top end of the stem.

Targets

Insects in general: army worms, caterpillars, cutworms and

fruit flies.

Snails.

Method

Use the residues as mulch for soil pests.

Grow as a trap crop for armyworm.

Soak the residue in water for spraying fruit fly and other

insects.

7.1.12 French marigold (Tagetes patula)

Other names

Afrikaans: Afrikaners

Zulu: Uhiobo iwesitliambo esinezimbali

eziliphuzi

African marigolds (Tagetes erecta)are very similar and

have similar properties

Right Above; French marigold

Right below; African Marigold

Plant description

Herbacious plant with a yellow or orange flower. It is

known as a ornamental plant. The leaves of this plant are

strongly aromatic.

Targets

Insects in general: rice green leafhoppers, brown plant

hoppers, diamond back moths, black bean aphids,

aphids, ants, beetles, cotton stainers, flies, maize borers and storage insect pests.

Fungi in general: Cochilobolus miyabeanus (Helminthosporiumoryzae,), Pyriculariaoryzae, Uramyces

appendiculatus (Uramycesphaseoli) and late blight.

Nematodes in general.

Bacteria in general.

Army worm

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

It can suppress some weeds.

Method

Crush 100-200g of leaves, roots, flowers, pour on 1 litre of boiling water, soak for 24 hours, add 1 litre of

cold water and some green bar soap, mix and spray on plants or into soil.

Soak 10 to 15 mature, chopped marigold plants in 20 litres of boiled hot water. Add sieved wood ash.

Strain and spray the affected plants or water around them. The coarse materials remaining from the

solution can be used as a mulch around plants and to repel insects.

Usually, the Tagetes spp. have been planted together with other plants susceptible to attack by

nematodes; the roots exude a substance with nematicidal effect, qualifying marigolds as natural

enemies of free-living nematodes that attack the roots of plants. For a mixture that can kill nematodes,

pound around 1kg of roots, collect the extract, mix with 1 litre water and spray into the soil

Leaves of marigold can be dug into the soil or the tea sprinkled on the soil to discourage many insects

from feeding. The leaves can also be mixed with

stored grain to prevent damage.

A number of pests can also be controlled by dusting

plants with dried and powdered parts ofTagetes

erecta.

7.1.13 Garlic (Allium sativum)

Other names

Afrikaans: Knoffel

Zulu: Ugaliga

Plant description

Strong-smelling bulbous herb.

Targets

Insects in general:

mosquitoes, cotton

stainers, aphids, flies,

army worms, ticks, ants,

beetles, caterpillars,

diamondback moths, false

codling moths, grubs,

mites, peach borers and termites.

False codling moth larvae and moth

The flowers, in powdered form are

added to the feed of laying chickens to

give the yolk of the eggs a bright orange

colour.

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

Others: birds, mice, moles, mole

rats and nematodes.

Right: A mole rat. Notice large

teeth. These creatures eat roots

and bulbs of plants

Far right; A cape mole. They have

very pronounced claws, eyes are

sometimes so small as to be

almost invisible and they are

insectivorous.

Fungi: scab, mildew, bean rust and tomato blight.

Alternaria - fruit rot, early blight, purple blotch, leaf spot.

Cercospora - leaf mould, leaf spot, early blight, frog-eye.

Colletotrichurn - leaf spot, anthracnose, fruit rot, smudge.

Right: Symptoms of antrachnose caused by the Colletotrichum

fungus; above on a capsicum plant and fruit and below on an

apple

Curvularia - leaf spot, leaf blight.

Diplodia - fruit and stem rot.

Fusarium - damping off, stein and root rot, early blight, wilt and curly top.

Helminthosporium - leaf blight.

Pestalotia - leaf spot.

Cochliobolusmiyabeanus (Helminthosporium oryzae).

Pyricidariaoryzae.

Bacteria: Xanthomonas spp.

Right: Bacterial blight on strawberries, caused by Xanthomonas

campestris

Method

Chop some cloves finely (one large bulb, or two medium bulbs) and

soak in 2 teaspoons of oil for one day or in liquid paraffin for two days.

Use a glass jar, not a tin. Mix with half a litre of soapy water and filter.

Mix 1 part solution with 10 parts of water and use as a spray. Shake

well before applying.

The bulbs can be dried, crushed and used as a powder. The powder can be made into a spray

recommended for scab, mildew, bean rust and tomato blight.

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

Right: Typical symptoms of bean rust

Garlic planted around fruit trees and other plants will repel

aphids, beetles, fruit tree borers like peach borer, mice, moles

and termites. Garlic bulbs are often planted as a repellant.

7.1.14 Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Other names

Afrikaans: Gemmer

Zulu: Ujinja

Plant description

Herb with a fleshy root with a strong smell and a strong taste. It is

widely used in food for seasoning.

Targets

Fungi: Cercospora - leaf mould, leaf spot, early blight, frog-eye.

Right; Typical symptoms of leafspot caused by Cercospora

Method

Extract the juice from the rhizome and use it as a spray.

7.1.15 Goat weed (Ageratum conyzoides)

Other names

English: Blue weed, billy-goat weed, invading ageratum

Afrikaans: Indringer-ageratum, bokkruid

Plant description

Warning

Garlic is a broad spectrum insecticide which will kill beneficial insects as well as pests.

Do not use on legumes as garlic inhibits the growth of the nitrogen fixing bacteria. For the same reason

garlic is not inter-cropped with legumes

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

Invader in South Africa. It is an annual plant that can grow up to1.5m high. Stems are green, purplish or

reddish in colour with bright green leaves. The flowers are fluffy blue, white or purplish.

Targets

Insects in general: diamond back moths, cotton

stainers, flies, snout beetles, maize weevils and

beetles in stored products.

Nematodes.

Bacteria in general. Weeds in general.

Method

Dried and powdered plant material can be used,

or water extracts can be sprayed.

Simply by planting goat weed, neighboring plants are protected from pest attack. It can also be used as a

mulch.

7.1.16 Gum tree (Eucalyptus spp.)

Other names

Afrikaans: Bloekomboom

Zulu: Impisikayihlangulwa, umdlavusa, umdlebe

Plant description

Tall evergreen tree with smooth bark, peeling in long thin

strips, revealing the new, light grey coloured, smooth bark.

Leaves are dark green and glossy. Flowers are cream coloured.

Targets

Insects in general: stalk borer moths.

Method

Take some of the young leaves, dry and grind them

into a powder for dusting.

Crush fresh leaves in water until the water is green,

add a little soap and spray.

The powder mixed with water has been used as a spray

to repel stalk borer moths, at the times when the

moths are active.

Snout beetle

Maize weevil

Warning

This mixture can burn plants

Stalk borer moth

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1.17 Lantana (Lantana camara)

Other names

English: Tickberry

Afrikaans: Gomdagga

Zulu: Ubuhobhe

Plant description

Invader that is a woody shrub up to 2m high. Stems are

usually rough. Leaves are dark green and strong smelling

when crushed. Flowers can be pink, red, crimson, orange,

yellow or white. Flowers are small and compact, usually with more than one colour per flowerhead.

Fruit are clumps of green to purplish-black, fleshy fruit.

Targets

Insects in general: maize weevils, beetles,

leaf miners and insects in stored grain.

Right; typical leaf miner damage

Method

Crush 1 handful of leaves in 1 litre of

water, add a little soap and spray.

Dry and grind into a dusting powder.

Burn the branches and dust the ashes over beetles and leaf miners.

Pound the flowers, leaves and/or branches and spread around stored

grains as an insect repellant.

7.1.18 Lemon grass (Andropogon citratus)

Other names

Afrikaans: Sitroengras, lemoengras, suurpol

Plant description

Tall grass with a strong lemon smell when crushed.

Targets

Insects in general: storage pests, mosquitoes, aphids, flies,

mites and ticks.

Nematodes: Meloidogyne incognita.

Warning

Poisonous to cattle- causes

photosensitivity

Leaf miner

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

Method

If an emulsion, containing oil, is sprayed onto pest-afflicted crops, it destroys aphids, mites and ticks.

Just by rubbing the fresh leaves of this plant onto a surface keeps away flies and mosquitoes. The

burning of the plant oil also repels insects.

A diluted solution of the juice obtained by pressing out the roots can also be used effectively for pest

control.

For control of nematodes, it is recommended to grow the grass on infested plots. This results in a rapid

decrease in the nematode population in the soil.

7.1.20 Mexican marigold (Tagetes minuta)

Other names

English: Tall khaki weed

Afrikaans: Kakiebos, langkakiebos

Plant description

Herbaceous weed with a very strong smell. Small yellow flowers are produced on

the plants.

Targets

Insects in general: ants, aphids, blowflies, caterpillars, flies, fleas, maggots,

mosquitoes and termites.

Fungi in general: Late blight and

mildews.

Near right: downy mildew and

powdery mildew symptoms

compared

Far right; Powdery mildew on a

squash plant.

Nematodes in general

Method

Soak crushed parts of 1 mature plant in 2 litres of water for 24 hours, filter and spray. A handful of wood

ash can be added to improve the insect range. Apply weekly for prevention of fungal diseases.

Ants can be repelled either by watering the liquid from the crushed plants well into the soil around the

plants to be protected or by digging the freshly crushed leaves of Tagetes into the soil before planting.

Grow in rotation for nematode control. Dry and grind for dusting powder against fleas, etc. Leaves

rubbed on the skin will repel mosquitoes. The Mexican marigold can also be used as a soil improver.

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1.21 Mexican poppy (Agromone mexicana)

Other names

Afhkaans: Bloudistel, Mexikaanse papawer

Zulu: Uhlobo lwembali okwenziwa ngayo i-ophiyamu

Plant description

Herbaceous annual with pretty open yellow to orange flowers. The

flowers can look floppy and wrinkled. The fruit is a capsule that holds

seed.

Targets

Insects in general: stem borers, termites, ants, cotton stainers, army

worms, snout beetles, beetles, caterpillars, grubs and weevils.

Fungi in general: Alternaria alternata (Alternaria tenuis) and Cochliobolus miyabeanus

(Helminthosporium oryzaa).

Nematodes in general: Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne javanica.

Bacteria in general.

Method

Water extracts, obtained from either the seeds or the whole plant, control some pests. The oil of the

plant is the best and is used for repelling ants and termites.

Dusting plants with the seeds of the Mexican poppy in powdered form is a quite successful method of

controlling pests.

7.1.22 Onion (Allium cepa)

Other names

Aftikaans: Ui

Zulu: U-anyanisi

Plant description

Strong-smelling, bulbous herb. Juice droplets irritate the human eye.

Targets

Insects: aphids, ants, cabbage butterfly, mites, scale insects, thrips,

tomato flies, ticks and whitefly.

Fungi: Cercospora - leaf mould, leaf spot, early blight, frog-eye.

Colletotrichum - leaf spot, anthracnose, fruit rot, smudge.

Curvularia - leaf spot, leaf blight.

Fusarium - damping off, stem and root rot, early blight, wilt and curly top.

Helminthosporium - leaf blight.

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

Pestalotia - leaf spot.

Animals: mice and moles.

Method

Crush 500g of onions and add to 5 litres of water and leave for

24 hours. Strain and spray.

Chop some cloves finely and soak in 2 teaspoons of oil for one

day. Mix with half a litre of soapy water and filter. Mix I part

solution with 20 parts water and use it as a spray.

Onions can be planted to repel cabbage butterfly, mice, moles and other pests.Onion flowers attract

pest predators, like parasitic wasps to the garden

7.1.23 Pawpaw (Carica papaya)

Other names

Afrikaans: Papaja

Zulu: Upopo

Plant description

Tropical tree with round hollow stem that produces big

yellow to orange coloured fruit. The fruit is soft, with lots

of small black pips inside.

Targets

Insects in general: army worms, aphids, caterpillars,

cutworms and termites.

Fungi in general: coffee rust, powdery mildew, rice brown

leaf spot - Cochliobolus miyabeanus(shown alongside)

Cercospora - leaf mould, leaf spot, early blight, frog-eye.

Diplodia - fruit and stem rot.

Nematodes in general: root-knot nematodes.

Method

Add 1kg of finely shredded leaves to 1 litre of water, shake

vigorously, filter and add 4 litres of water. Add 2 teaspoons of paraffin and a little soap. Spray or water

into the soil for cutworm. Used as a spray the solution is also effective for controlling fungi.

A juice obtained by pressing out the roots has been shown to

destroy nematodes when worked into the soil.Extract the juice

from immature fruit to control termites.

The leaves will tenderize meat if

placed in water with the meat or

wrapped around it

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1.24 Pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum spp.)

Other names

Afrikaans: Krisant, aster, madeliefie

Plant description

Herbaceous ornamental plant which produces daisy-like

flowers of different colours: white and yellow, pink, orange or

just yellow. The variety with white flowers is the preferred

variety for insecticidal properties

Targets

Insects in general: white flies leafhoppers, spider mites, cabbage

worms, aphids, cockroaches, flies, mosquitos, caterpillars, tobacco

lice, beetles, locusts, mites, thrips and moths.

Method

Pyrethrum is a traditionally well-known insect poison derived from

the daisy species (Chrysanthemum spp.). Pyrethrin in the plant acts

as a nerve and contact poison on insects, but is harmless for all

warm-blooded creatures (human beings and animals).

To obtain natural pyrethrin, the flower heads of Chrysanthemum

are gathered by hand and dried. The powder can be applied mixed

either with gypsum or talc. The effectiveness of the powder

increases if ground finer. Make sure that you dust the underside of

the leaves. Under favourable conditions, the flowers can be

harvested throughout the year.

Draw one tablespoon of pyrethrum powder in half a litre of water,

with a little liquid soap for 30 min. Filtrate and spray immediately.

Pour 1 litre of boiling water over 50g pyrethrum flowers (or 20g powder), soak for several hours, add a

little soap, filter and spray. Apply late in the evening and spray selectively to protect beneficial insects.

The active constituents of Chrysanthemum spp. rapidly decompose when exposed to light and oxygen

(within 48 hours). As a result, crops must be treated at relatively short intervals.

White flies

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1.25 Soyabean (Glycine max)

Other names

Afrikaans: Sojaboon

Zulu: Uhlobo lukabhontshisi, usoya

Plant description

Legume, produced widely as a valuable food source. The whole plant is

covered in short hairs. Pods are very high in protein.

Targets

Insects in general: ants, woolly aphids and codling moths.

Method

The spray is prepared by soaking the stems in water and using the water as a spray.

7.1.27 Sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum)

Other names

Afrikaans: Soetrissie

Plant description

Small, shrub-like plant, with shiny leaves. Produces large hollow

green fruit. The fruit has a sweet spicy taste.

Targets

Viruses in general: Mosaic virus.

Right: typical symptoms of tobacco mosaic virus

Method

The juice from sweet peppers will control mosaic virus and

inhibit the spread of other viruses.

Warning

Be sure to use plants that are not infected by

any kind of virus, as this will only spread the

virus to the plants being sprayed.

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1.27 Sweet potato (Impomoea batatas)

Other names

Afrikaans: Patat

Zulu: Ubhatata, umhlaza

Plant description

Vine with underground swollen roots that are used as a food

source. The swollen roots can have a dark red skin with

white flesh or a more brown-coloured skin. The flesh can

also be orange, depending on the cultivar. The roots are rich

in starch.

Targets

Insects: aphids.

Fungi in general: rice brown spot mid rice blast fungus.

Method

The leaves are crushed, soaked in water and sprayed. Heavily starched water from cooking the potatoes

can be tried on some smaller insects such as aphids.

7.1.28 Syringa (Melia azedarach)

Other names

English: Chinaberry tree, Persian lilac,

umbrella tree

Afrikaans: Bessieboom, Kaapse sering,

makboom

Zulu: Umsilinga

Plant description

Deciduous tree with small, purplish flowers and small, yellow, berry-like fruit. It is a declared weed.

Targets

Insects in general: ants, aphids,

armyworms, beetles, bollworms,

cabbage root fly, caterpillars, plant-

and leaf-hoppers, grubs, stem

borers, weevils, red spider mites and

termites.

Fungi and nematodes in general.

African bollworm

Cotton bollworm

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

Method

Soak 150g fresh (or 50g dried) leaves in 1 litre cold water for 24 hours, filter and spray.

A handful of leaves and berries boiled in 5 litres of water is said to make a general fungicide and

insecticide. The mixture will repel moles if made stronger.

For termites: mulch with leaves and berries or dig them into planting holes; dry and grind plant parts for

dusting powder.

7.1.29 Tea (Cammelia sinensis)

Other names

Afrikaans: Tee

Zulu: Itiye

Plant description

Shrub with leaves that are very rich in caffeine. The leaves are used

to make teas. The bush also produces small white flowers.

Targets

Insects in general: woolly aphids, squash bugs and termites.

Snails.

Method

The used leaves can be spread around plants to repel

snails.

The liquid (tea) when cooled can be sprayed onto plants.

The fruit can be soaked in

water and used to repel

termites (shown

alongside).

Warning

The syringa berries are poisonous. The mixture can burn your plants, so ensure you dilute your

mixtures and try them out on a few plants first.

Woolly aphids

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1.30 Thorn apple (Datura stramonium)

Other names

English: Jimson weed, apple of Peru, prickly apple,

purple stink weed

Afrikaans: Olieboom, stinkblaar, blou stinkblaar,

makolieboom

Zulu: iloyi, iyoli, iyoye, iyoyi

Plant description

Annual weed, grows up to 1m in height and has a distinct

smell when crushed. Flowers are trumpet-like and can be white or purplish in colour. Fruit are born in

capsules covered with short, soft spikes.

Targets

Insects in general: aphids, caterpillars, silk moths, seed weevils, cotton stainers, white grubs, army

worms, cut worms.

Fungi in general: Alternaria alternata (Alternaria tenuis),

Cochilobolus myiabeanus (Helminthosporium oryzae).

Nematodes.

Others: human and animal ecto-parasites.

Method

This plant can be used in pest control just by drying and powdering the leaves, stems and/or seeds and

dusting afflicted crops with it.

For protection of stored produce, dried thorn apple

leaves can be mixed in with the products.

Crush a handful of leaves in 1 litre of water, add a little

soap, and use as a spray.

7.1.31 Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)

Other names

Afrikaans: Tabak

Zulu: Ugwayi

Plant description

Herbaceous plant with large, broad leaves that are pointed at the tip.

The leaves are rich in nicotine and are used in cigarettes.

Targets

Warning

The plant is poisonous to human beings

and animals (‘Malpitte” in Afrikaans)

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

Insects in general: aphids, caterpillars, mites, stem borers, thrips, leaf miners, whitefly, leafhoppers, flea

beetles, grain weevils, fleas, lawn caterpillars, scale insects, termites, ticks and spider mites. Fungi in

general: rust.

Viruses in general: leaf curl virus.

Others: bilharzia snails, slugs and snails.

Method

It is estimated that nicotine extracts from tobacco have been used as insecticides since 1890.

The extract is more effective during warm weather, but degrades quickly.

The whole plant can be used: soak 1 kg of bruised leaves and stalks in 15 litres of water for 24 hours. The

solution is strained and a little soap added. The addition of slaked lime will increase the effectiveness of

the spray. When the nicotine is exposed to sunlight, it breaks down within a few days. Use as a general

spray.

A nicotine spray ban be made using 10 cigarettes (or 50g

pipe tobacco or 50g tobacco dust). Put in 5 litres of hot

water for 24 hours, strain, dilute with 25 litres of water

and spray.

Dry and grind the plant very finely into a powder for

dusting onto pests.

Dust on trees and crops to repel insects and to control leaf

curl virus.

Mulch with scrap leaves to repel

slugs and snails, nymphs and

larvae hiding in the soil, or in

other mulching material, and to

repel aphids, flea beetles and

thrips.

Warning

Tobacco is one of the natural remedies that is more poisonous than

some chemicals.

Avoid contact with the liquid forms, use protective clothing when

spraying or use a watering can. Be careful when using this spray as

tobacco can be absorbed through the skin.

Do not harvest plants within 3 days of spraying.

Tobacco sprays can burn the leaves of plants, do dilute and use

carefully.

Do not use the tobacco spray on the Solanacea family (tomatoes,

potatoes, brinjals and peepers), as you may transfer tobacco mosaic

virus to your plants.

Nicotine can kill earthworms and other beneficial soil organisms.

Nicotine is poisonous to fish.

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.1.32 Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Other names

Afrikaans: Tamatie

Zulu: Utamatisi

Plant description

Small herbaceous plant with bright to dark green leaves. The plant

produces a red fruit and is very common in vegetable gardens.

Targets

Insects in general: aphids, ants, asparagus beetles,

cabbage worms, caterpillars, cockroaches, diamond

back moths, flies, grasshoppers, grubs, larvae, mites,

ticks, tomato hornworms, whitefly and maize borer.

Fungi in general.

Nematodes in general: Hoplolaimus spp. and

Tylenchorhynchusdubius.

Bacteria in general: Pseudomonassolanacearum,

bacterial wilt.

Method

Tomatoes have the properties of a feeding inhibitor and

repellant.

Tomatoes also prevent egg laying in various insects.

Any plant part may be used to make a tea. Fresh leaves

are best for making extracts but should be used

immediately; these can be supplemented by stems and

fruit (new growth). The plant material should be finely

chopped and mixed with water. Take 2 handfuls of new

growth and add to 2 litres of water. After waiting at least

5 hours, the mixture should be filtered and applied. A little soap can be added. Wood ash can also be

added. Spray every 2 days.

Tomatoes planted around other plants will protect those

plants from asparagus beetles. The whole plant hung up

in orchards or in houses is said to protect the fruit trees

from many insects and the houses from cockroaches.

Grasshopper

Asparagus beetle

Warning

The leaves are poisonous to human beings

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.2 ENRICHED SPRAYS

Enriched sprays are liquid manures/teas that assist both with fertility and protection against pest and

disease control.

These sprays build up the immunity of plant, assist with minor nutrient and mineral deficiencies

balancing the nutrient uptake of plants as well as the microbial populations on the plant and in the soil

around the plant. In the process of fermentation antibiotics develop that kill disease causing organism.

The plants’ resistance is stimulated in the process

The following sprays have been used in South America with great success, by Maria José Guazzelli, of

Future Earth:

7.2.1 Vegetable & weed spray

This is a good all purpose spray that can be used as a foliar feed and to water

the plants and the soil around the plants.

Mix the following ingredients in a 100 L container:

2.5 kg of chopped sugarcane

1 L milk

80 L of different vegetables - cabbage, cucumber, broccoli, fruit, etc.

Add the vegetables gradually over the standing period. (Diseased

produce can be used)

0.25 kg of crushed bones or bone meal

0.125 kg agricultural lime

0.75 wood ash

5 - 8 L chopped weeds

Top up the container with water and stir well

Wait 20 - 30 days to ferment and sieve the mixture.

Add 2 - 5 L of the juice extract to 100 L water.

Warning

It is important to dilute the mixture before use, as

it can burn the leaves of plants if too strong.

Tips on mixtures

If you do not have sugarcane or sugar, you can replace it with produce high in starch such as potatoes.

Urine can be used instead of milk, as it speeds up the fermentation process. Fish and cattle rumen can also be

used to ferment the mixture.

Bones and horn contain phosphorous, calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)

Agricultural lime contains Ca and Mg and can be replaced by egg shells

Diseased produced can be used in the mixtures – the disease causing organism are killed by the fermentation

process

It is important to dilute the mixtures before applying them to the leaves of crops ,or they might burn the plants.

NB: Eucalyptus,Suringa and Lantana should not be used for any of the enriched sprays.

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

Use the preparation as a foliar spray. The quicker you use this mixture after it is ready, the greater the

effect of the antibiotics will be.

7.2.2 Weed spray

Mix the following ingredients in a 100 L container:

15 kg of chopped weeds

60 L water

5 L milk

5 L sugarcane juice or 15 kg chopped sugarcane

4 kg wood ash

4 kg crushed bones or bone meal

3 - 5 kg agricultural lime

Leave for 10 -20 days

Use 2 - 10 L of preparation in 100 L water

7.2.3 Manure and weed spray

Mix the following ingredients in a 100 L container:

30 kg of fresh cow manure

50 – 60 L water

5 L milk

5 L sugarcane juice or 15 kg of chopped sugarcane

4 kg of wood ash

4 kg crushed bones or bone meal

3 -5 20 L buckets of chopped weeds

2 - 3 kg agricultural limestone

Leave for 10 – 15 days

Use 2 – 10 L of the preparation in 100£ water and use as a foliar spray.

Bone meal and horn meal are rich in phosphorus -

use as a supplement to keep the soil fertile.

7.2.4 Plant hormone mixture

Collect green material from non-cultivated vegetation

(weeds, trees or grasses before they reach flowering).

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

Weigh and crush the collected material.

Place in a container and add water to just cover the material, leave to soak overnight.

Drain the liquid, bring it to the boil gradually and simmer for 2 hours.

For every kg of collected material add 20 L of water. Apply as a foliar spray twice in the growing cycle of

the crop.

The mixture can be stored for up to 2 months in a cool, dark place. Make sure the container is covered

to prevent direct sunlight and rain from entering.

7.2.5 Soil topdressing for vegetables

Mix the following ingredients in a 100 L container:

15 -25 kg of fresh cow manure

2.5 kg of thicken manure

10kg of sugarcane chopped

Fill the container with water.

Leave 7to 10 days.

Dilute 20 -50 L with 60£ of water and apply to the soil.

Do not apply to the leaves of the plants - it will burn the plants.

It can be used on the leaves, but it has to be diluted much more.

7.2.6 Weed suppressor

Take squash leaves and air dry them in the shade.

Soak in clean water for 2 hours (use rain water or tap water that was left in the sun for I day).

Dilute 5 kg of leaves with 95 L water.

Filter.

Irrigate the area.

7.2.7 Tomato spray

Mix the following ingredients in a 30 L container:

1 kg of Bougainvillaea leaves - must be very well crushed

40 g soap (not detergent - green bar of sunlight soap)

Mix the above.

Leave for2-3 days.

Spray tomato seedlings 2 - 3 times before you transplant.

Spray tomatoes every 2 weeks once you have transplanted them.

7 BOTANICAL REMEDIES

7.2.8 Compost Spray

Compost targets most pests and diseases, as it gives the plants greater resistance to attack from pests

and diseases.

Use well-rotted compost and plant materials.

Spray the plants and the soil with a mixture of 1 shovelful of compost in 20 litres of water after the mix

has been standing for three days to several weeks. Compost supplies the plants with much needed

nutrients to help plants withstand attack and to increase yields. The longer the mix is left to stand, the

stronger and more effective it becomes. The spray is applied once a week when plants are still young.

By increasing the compost level in the soil, plants can be protected against all pests and diseases.

Apply the spray as a preventative measure and as a regular weekly treatment once the disease appears.

8 ORGANIC REMEDIES

8.1 REMEDIES FROM ORGANIC MATERIAL

8.1.1 Ash

Targets

Insects in general: aphids, cabbage root fly, caterpillars, cucumber

beetles, cutworms, grasshoppers, larvae, potato moths, root

maggots, squash bugs, stalk borers, termites and weevils.

Fungi in general: mildew and clubroot.

Bacteria in general.

Others: slugs, snails, birds and nematodes.

Method

Spray with a mixture of I heaped tablespoon of wood ash

in 1 litre of water, leave overnight, strain to remove

solids, mix in 1 cup of sour milk and add 3 litres of water.

This treatment is said to be successful against mildew

and a range of pests.

Wood ash mixed with soapy water and/or lime can act as

a general insecticide.

Soaking seed in wood ash and water for 24 hours before planting gives protection against fungal and

bacterial diseases. If the juice or leaves of any strongly aromatic plant is added to the water it will also

deter birds from eating the seed. Some strong-smelling plants can, however, affect the viability of

seed.

Wood ash is a good alkaline fertilizer. Spreading a circle around the base of plants and soaking it in with

water can control maggots, cutworms, cucumber beetles, squash bugs and slugs. The dust dehydrates

soft-bodied insects. Ash can also be mixed with compost and dug into the soil.

Wood ash contains potassium, calcium and phosphorus.

Warning

Only wood ash can be sued. Never us ash from coal fires as this is poisonous to the soil

and plants.

Do not allow ash to touch the steams of plants, especially seedlings.

Protect eyes from ash

Ensure that ash has cooled down properly before using it in the garden.

Cabbage root fly maggots

8 ORGANIC REMEDIES

8.1.2 Bicarbonate of Soda

Targets

Insects: aphids and scale insects. Fungal diseases: mildew

and rust,

Method

Mix 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda with 1 teaspoon of

liquid soap in 5 litres of water.

Use as a spray on affected plants.

8.1.3 Bordeaux mixture

Targets

Fungi in general: powdery mildew, downy mildew, tomato and potato

blight, black spot on beans, leaf curl on peaches, rust.

Right; Leaf curl on peaches, a fungal disease that can be easily treated

with Bordeaux mixture.

Method

Mix 90g of blue copper sulphate with 4.5 litres of water in a

nonmetallic container. In another non-metallic container, mix 125g of

slaked lime (builders lime) with 4.5 litres of water. Stir and make sure the lime is well dissolved. Mix the

two solutions and stir well. Test the mixture by putting an old nail in it for 30 seconds. If it turns blue,

there is not enough lime in the mixture or the lime is not sufficiently dissolved in the water. Allow the

lime to soak longer, otherwise the mixture will burn the leaves. Apply twice at 7 day

intervals, but only if necessary.

Warning

Bicarbonate of soda can burn the leaves of plants if it

is not diluted properly, and also if it is applied too

often

Warning

At high concentrations the mixture is toxic to soil

organisms, plants, animals and human beings.

Scale insects

8 ORGANIC REMEDIES

8.1.4 Builders’ lime

Targets

Insects: larvae.

Slugs and snails.

Method

Spray lime and water mixtures onto tender plant parts only after the

mixture has been allowed to stand for a few days for the heat of

hydration to disappear.

8.1.5 Clay, lime and other powdery materials

(Any fine powdery materials such as clay, lime, flour, chalk, etc.)

Targets

Insects in general: ants, aphids, beetles, caterpillars, codling moths, cutworms, insect eggs, larvae, mites,

scale insects, squash bugs, stink bugs, thrips and white fly.

Fungi: clubroot.

Others: slugs and snails.

Bacteria: canker.

Method

Dust onto leaves, the insects or their eggs, to suffocate them.

Dust around the base of plants to protect them from crawling insects.

Spray with a mixture of the powdery material in water.

Mix clay with fresh cattle manure to form a paste and paint the mixture on trunks of trees against

codling moths and other pests and to seal cuts on the trees after pruning.

Fill wounds in trees, including those caused

by cutting out canker, with moist clay

rammed in tight.

Warning

Do not apply dry dust onto tender plant parts such as

leaves.

Liming of acid soil reduces the incidence of cutworm

and clubroot.

8 ORGANIC REMEDIES

8.1.6 Coffee grounds and tea leaves

Targets

Insects in general.

Slugs and snails.

Method

Spread around the plants on the surface of the soil to

protect plants from slugs and snails.

As sprays, fairly strong brews of tea leaves

and coffee grounds have general

insecticidal properties.

Use as frequently as necessary.

8.1.7 Flour

Targets

Insects: spider mites, aphids and caterpillars.

Method

1 tablespoon of flour diluted in 1 litre of water, splashed

with a branch or wiped onto the underside of leaves with

spider mites or aphids makes the insects dry out. The

remedy should be applied on in the morning of a sunny

day and it sometimes needs repeating after

2 weeks.

Spray with a mixture of 4 cups of flour, half

a cup of sour milk and 20 litres of water.

Flour can be dusted onto vegetables prone

to caterpillar attack.

8.1.8 Insects

Targets

Insects: armyworms, caterpillars, grasshoppers and locusts.

Others: slugs and millipedes.

Method

Remedies made from the pest insect itself often discourage others from eating.

Crush 10 to 20 pest insects and put in 5 litres of water and add a little soap. Sprinkle it over the crop

affected by this particular insect pest.

Warning

Coffee grounds and tea leaves may create acidic

conditions in the soil in the long run

Warning

Do not apply dry dust onto tender plant parts such as

leaves.

8 ORGANIC REMEDIES

Remedies made from insects are more effective when diseased

insects are added. Sometimes a paralysed grasshopper can be

found on top of a stalk of grass. A fungus grows inside it and when

added to an insect remedy one can help to spread the disease to

infect more grasshoppers.

8.1.9 Milk

Targets

Insects: spider mites and caterpillars.

Fungi in general: blights and mildews.

Viruses in general: mosaic virus.

Method

Spray 1 litre of milk diluted with 10 to 15 litres of water. The spray has to

be repeated after 10 days for diseases and after 3 weeks for insects.

Stir 1 heaped teaspoon of wood ash vigorously into 1 litre of water, leave

overnight, strain to remove solids, add 1 cup of sour milk and add 3 litres

of water. This mixture has been found to be effective in controlling

mildew, when applied as a full-cover spray.

Sprays of skimmed milk have been used to control many viral diseases.

8.1.10 Paraffin

Targets

Birds.

Method

Dip seeds in paraffin before planting. It will prevent birds from digging up the newly-planted seeds.

Warning

Many colourful insects, such as blister beetles for

example have poison in their bodies and a remedy

made form them should be handled with care.

Blister beetle

Warning

Don’t use seed as food after treating with paraffin. Keep paraffin away from

children and make sure it is stored in appropriate containers (not cool drink bottles)

8 ORGANIC REMEDIES

8.1.11 Salt preparations

Targets

Insects in general: aphids, cabbage worms, caterpillars and

whitefly.

Others: slugs and snails.

Method

Spray aphid and whitefly with a mixture of 1 teaspoon of salt

to 1 tablespoon of vinegar and mix with 1 litre of water. Add

half a teaspoon of liquid soap.

The above mixture has been recommended for use on

aphids, cabbage worm and caterpillars and as a general

repellant.

Sprinkle a few grains of dry salt on slugs and snails to

make them shrivel up and die.

8.1.12 Soap solutions

Targets

Insects in general: aphids, crickets, armyworms, caterpillars, leaf

miners, mites, psyllid, whitefly, small beetles and thrips.

Fungi in general.

Others: slugs and snails.

Method

Soap has been used for the control of soft-bodied plant pests since

1787. Most of these soaps were derived from either plant oils

(cottonseed, olive, palm or coconut) or from animal fat (whale oil or

fish oil). Soap breaks down the membranes of insects and causes

them to die, or it suffocates them.

Soap can be added to many of the plant remedies to increase the effectiveness of the solution. Soap

makes the solution stick easily on plants and pests. Soap is also added in small quantities to other

preparations as it helps the spray to stay on the leaves and to spread out into a thin coating. Many soft-

bodied pests such as aphids, caterpillars and whitefly can be controlled with soap alone.

Take 50g soap and dissolve in 2 to 5 litres of water. Spray onto the pests and plants.

Stronger soap solutions are needed for bigger insects. Some soaps are said to have a slight fungicidal

effect.

Warning

Too much salt can damage the structure

of the soil

8 ORGANIC REMEDIES

8.1.13 Sugar

Targets

Nematodes in general.

Method

Dissolve 2 kg of sugar in a bucket of water and pour over the soil to

dehydrate nematodes. The treatment will kill all nematodes within 24

hours.

Soaking sweet potatoes in sugar water for 24 hours prior to planting has

been used to remove nematodes.

8.1.14 Vinegar

Targets

Insects: aphids, ants and mosquitoes.

Method

Spray with a mixture of 3 tablespoons of vinegar, 3 tablespoons of liquid soap, 2

tablespoons of liquid manure and 10 litres of water to kill off aphids and boost

the plant at the same time. Apply as often as necessary: 2-3 times at 4-day

intervals.

Warning

Do not apply this treatment more than once on a

given piece of land, as it also kills beneficial

organisms.

This treatment is not suitable for large areas- due to

the expense.

Warning

Be careful not to use soap too often.

Modern washing powders for clothes can burn plant leaves and will damage the structure of the

soil. Even soft soap in strong concentrations can burn leaves.

It is thus important to use pure soap (green bar soap) and not detergents such as washing powder

and dish washing liquid.

8 ORGANIC REMEDIES

8.1.15 Mulch

(Dead plant material: crop residues, hay, leaves, weeds, etc.)

Targets

Insects: cutworms, grasshoppers, ground beetles, lawn caterpillars,

moths, termites and thrips.

Others: nematodes, slugs and snails.

Method

Cover the soil with mulch, one finger deep, preferably. The mulch

should consist of as wide a variety of plant material as possible.

Mulches of aromatic herbs are recommended for protecting plants

from cutworms, ground beetles, thrips, slugs and snails. Covering

the bare soil with mulch discourages grasshoppers, moths and

certain beetles from laying their eggs in the soil. It also reduces the

number of harmful nematodes in the soil.

To repel termites, include banana stems and mixtures of aromatic

plants mid weeds. Wood chips can help in aerating the soil and

increasing soil moisture.

8.1.16 Manure, dung and urine

(Cow, donkey, goat, predatory animal and poultry manure, and

human and animal urine.)

Targets

Insects: aphids, bagrada bugs, caterpillars, codling moths,

cutworms, fruit flies, grasshoppers, mealy bugs, mites, stalk

borers and thrips.

Birds.

Fungi in general: mildew and scab.

Bacteria in general.

Viruses in general.

Method

Spray with a mixture of 1 shovelful of dry cow manure mixed

thoroughly into 10 litres of water after it has been stirred once

daily for 14 days. Clay dust can be sprinkled into the bucket to

Stalk borer

Bagrada bug

8 ORGANIC REMEDIES

reduce smells and to add some minerals. Dilute the mixture 3-5 times before spraying. It will repel

aphids when sprayed onto plant leaves and protect plants from cutworms when sprayed onto the

surface of the soil. It also acts as a foliar nutrient when sprayed onto the leaves and increases the plant’s

resistance to bacterial and fungal diseases.

A shovelful of fresh donkey manure in a bucket of water, left

overnight, can be effective against aphids, bagrada bugs and

grasshoppers. Apply as often as required.

Spray with a mixture of 1 part urine (human or animal) to 1 part

water to prevent infestation by aphids, caterpillars, cutworms,

mealy bugs, mites, thrips, and for protection against fungal,

bacterial and viral diseases. A diluted form is recommended for

fungal diseases: scab and mildews.

Paint a mixture of clay and cattle manure onto the trunks of fruit

trees to protect them from codling moths and other pests. Wood ash can be added to this mixture. The

mixture can be applied to protect fresh cuts after pruning.

Spraying with cow urine that has been standing for two weeks and diluted with 6 parts of water is said

to control stalk borer.

Soaking seeds for 24 hours in cow dung mixed with water is said to prevent birds from digging up seeds.

Giving seeds a coating of a mixture of clay and cow-dung prevents birds and mice from eating the seeds.

This method will only be suitable for the bigger types of seed like maize and beans.

Warning

Vegetables or fruit sprayed with these mixtures must be washed thoroughly before

consumption.

If used too often undiluted urine will burn plants and will render the soil toxic

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Beka F., Siki, 1985, Simple organic plant protection, Subsistence Agriculture Improvement Manual (Dr.

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Miller, G. T., 1994, Living in the environment, International Thomson Publishing, California.

Mollison, B., 1993, Introduction to permaculture, Academic Books, Harare.

Ordish, G., 1967, Biological methods in crop pest control, Constable & Company Ltd., London.

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Unwin, R. (Ed), 1990, Crop protection in organic and low input agriculture, Monograph No 45, British

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