Production of Chemical Insecticides Using Neem Oil and the Processes Involved
Chapter One
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study is to know and illustrate the following:
- The equipment involved in the production of chemical insecticide using neem oil
- The quality or measurement of the materials needed for the production of chemical insecticide using neem oil
- The acidic content of the materials needed for the production of chemical insecticide using neem oil
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
CONCEPTUAL REVIEW
In recent years, many insect pests have been reported to be the major limiting factors affecting production and productivity of several crops. There is also a change in the insect pest scenario in several crops due to changes in crop ecosystem. Now-a-days, pesticides are being used extensively in the control of crop pests. Synthetic insecticides are used widely for the control of various insect pests. Use of chemical insecticides for controlling insects has led to several environmental problems, serious health hazards to human being and animals, development of resistance to insecticides, destruction of natural enemies and pesticide residues. To overcome the problem of synthetic chemical hazards, one of the best control meausre is the use of plant products. The popularity of the plant products are increasing day-by-day, because of their biodegradability, least persistence and least toxic to non-target organisms, economic and easy availability. There are about 1,005 species of plants exhibiting insecticidal properties, 384 with antifeedant properties, 297 with repellant properties, 31 with growth inhibiting properties and 27 with attractant properties (Singh, 1999). So far, 6,000 alkaloids, 4,000 amino acids, 3,000 terpenoids, several thousands of phenylterpenoids, 1,000 flavonoids, 650 polyacetylenes and 500 quinones have been isolated from plants. Many of them protect the plants from insect pests (Abdul Kareem, 1999).
Botanical pesticides have been traditionally used to control various economically important insect pests of agricultural, horticultural and forest crops. Neem tree is the most researched tree in the world (Thakkar, 1997) and is said to be the most promising tree of 21st century. It is widely grown in Asian countries and in tropical and sub-tropical areas of Africa, America and Australia. It grows well even in poor, shallow, degraded and saline soil. Neem is more commonly used as shade trees, wind breaks and as a source of firewood than for its medicinal or insecticidal purposes. The modern world finds neem as an effective alternative to chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Neem products are effective against more than 350 species of arthropods, 12 species of nematodes, 15 species of fungi, three viruses, two species of snails and one crustacean species.
NEEM
Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) (Meliaceae) is native to the Indian sub-continent and well known as the ‘Botanical Marvel’, ‘Village Pharmacy’, ‘Wonder Tree’, ‘all-can-treat-tree’ and ‘Gift of Nature’. Neem has great potential in the fields of pest management, environmental protection and medicine. All parts of neem like seed, flower, bark, and leaf possess insecticidal activity but seed kernel is the most effective. The products derived from neem tree act as powerful Insect Growth Regulators (IGR) and also help in controlling several nematodes and fungi (Subbalakhmi et al., 2012).
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
STUDY AREA
The research was conducted in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The samples of the neem leaves were obtained from communities around the University campus. The plant was identified according to the description by Felter and Lloyd [1898 [5] and later authenticated by comparing with voucher specimens at the herbarium section of the University.
PREPARATION OF THE INSECTICIDE
A weighed quantity of dried neem leaves were blended into powder with a blender to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The dried neem powder was used for making the insecticide while the fresh blended leaves were used for the extraction.
10.00g of the powdered neem leaves sample was weighed into a 200ml beaker. 5.0g of a binding material (starch) was weighed and added to the neem sample in the beaker. The mixture was stirred to obtain a homogeneous mixture. 5.0ml of distilled water was added gradually to the mixture in quantity of 1.0ml while stirring [6].
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
RESULTS
The prepared neem insecticide was distributed among households within the study area and they were educated on how to use them. The households used them and were closely monitored for the effectiveness. They applied the insecticide in the evening in the comfort of their homes. The results were obtained based on the following:
- Time of application
- Number of bites received before, during and after bites period.
- Adverse effects suffered.
Tables 1 and 2 below shows the efficiency rate of the insecticide with respect to the time of application.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
CONCLUSION
Neem can be considered as the most important among all biopesticides for controlling pests due to its non-toxicity and environmental safety. Azadirachtin is found to be the most potent neem fraction that adversely affects the growth and development of different insects in specific manner by different actions like repellent, oviposition deterrent and growth inhibition action. It is widely used in several countries around the world today either singly or in combination with synthetic pesticides in integrated pest management. The produced pesticides neem leaf extract and oil-based pesticide were sprayed on pest-infested subjects and the following results were obtained.
- The Neem leaf extract showed significant reduction in pest infestation in a period of sevendays
- The oil-based pesticide showed reduction in pest infestation in four days time
Hence we can conclude that the oil-based pesticide is more efficient in pest control than the neem leaf extract. The maximum yield obtained from extraction of neem oil was 32% for n-hexane at 50°C and 0.5 – 1mm particle size. This extraction follows first order kinetic with smaller value as decrease of temperature. It also found that ΔH is positive, ΔS is positive, and ΔG is negative indicating that this process is endothermic, irreversible, and spontaneous.
RECOMMENDATION
The research has shown that insecticides made from natural botanical source such as neem leaves for mosquito eradication are less toxic as compared to those from the synthetic origin hence it is safer to use insecticides prepared from natural raw materials since they have little or no adverse effects on human health.
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