The challenge of managing stored grain pests has significant economic implications for the agricultural sector. Traditional methods involving chemical insecticides pose environmental and health risks, prompting a shift towards exploring sustainable alternatives. This study focuses on the diverse group of stored grain pests, including Rhizopertha dominica, Sitophilus zeamais, and Callosobruchus chinensis, which cause substantial losses in quality and quantity of stored grains. The research investigates the potential of locally available plant materials with natural insect-repelling properties as an eco-friendly alternative. The study explores 11 indigenous insect-repelling plants through bioassays against major stored grain pests, revealing promising results in terms of insect mortality. Melia seed powder, Lemon grass leaf powder, Thuja seed powder, and Tej patta leaf powder exhibit significant insecticidal activity ranging from 55-70%. Further, the organic treatment, Mugdha rasa (Mercury tablet) recorded statistically on par results with the positive control (aluminium phosphide tablets 56%) by recording cent per cent mortality 2 months after treatment. Additionally, the potential for isolating insecticidal metabolites from these plants opens new avenues for natural insecticides. The study contributes to the ongoing dialogue on nature-inspired solutions for the enduring issue of stored grain pest management in the unique agro-ecosystem of the Indian Himalayas.
Paschapur et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
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