Protecting Crop Against Pests
About the Practice
Muljibhai Ratnabhai Patel from in the Bharad village of the Dhangadra taluka of the Surendranagar district in Gujarat uses whey to protect plants from the attack of insects. He soaks the seeds of castor (Ricinus communis) in whey for a night before sowing. Farmers believe that this practice gives resistance to the plant against attack by any insect pest.
About the Innovator
Agro-Ecological Zone: North West Zone (GJ-5), North Saurashtra (GJ-6)
Address: Bharad, Dhangadra, Surendranagar
District: Surendranagar
State: Gujarat
PIN Code 363320
Practice Details
Crop: Castor
Crop Family: Spurges
Crop Scientific Name: (Ricinus communis)
Crop Vernacular Name: Erand, Arand, Bherenda, Eri, Era gatch, Areta, Alha
Formulation: Soak the seeds of castor (Ricinus communis) in whey for a night before sowing.
Ingredients: Whey
PAS 1:
"Milk was found to be effective at controlling fungus and also acted as a foliar fertilizer, boosting the plant’s immune system. We have saved thousands this year by just spraying our crops with milk instead of using synthetic chemicals and fungicides." -
https://downtoearthph.com/tag/milk-as-pesticide/#:~:text=Milk%20was%20found%20to%20be,using%20synthetic%20chemicals%20and%20fungicides.
"Milk was tested in kale plants naturally infested with aphids and powdery mildew. •Milk application reduced powdery mildew and aphid populations. •Dead aphids were found to be parasited by a fungus identified as Cladosporium sp. •Fungicides reduced Cladosporium sp. growth in vitro but not milk. •Milk separately or with Cladosporium sp. reduced aphid populations in vitro."
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030442381630142X#:~:text=Milk%20was%20tested%20in%20kale,with%20aphids%20and%20powdery%20mildew.&text=Milk%20application%20reduced%20powdery%20mildew%20and%20aphid%20populations.&text=Dead%20aphids%20were%20found%20to,fungus%20identified%20as%20Cladosporium%20sp.&text=Fungicides%20reduced%20Cladosporium%20sp.
"Milk for Aphid Control" -
https://www.ilonasgarden.com/milk-aphid-control/