Impact of novel biopesticide formulation on tomato crop: Economics and environmental effects

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is attacked by number of insect pests and is susceptible to a variety of diseases (Pandey et al. 2006; Reddy et al. 2007) and it consumes huge amount of pesticides. Large doses of pesticides are applied on tomatoes crop to prevent losses due to insect pests (Yardlm and Edwards 2003), which are harmful to environment besides uneconomical. This paper presents assessment of economics and Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ) of indigenously prepared Biopesticide formulation (BPF) in comparison with organic, IPM and non-IPM programs of tomato crop. The BPF utilized was comprising Phyllanthus emblica (amla, 4%) fruit, Curcuma zedooria (turmeric, 6%), Allum (phitkari, 5%), Allium cepa (onion, 3.5%) bulb, Allium sativum (garlic, 4%) bulb, Calotropis procera (5%). Fresh cow-dung extract (3%), Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato, 6%) leaf extract, Ferula narthexboiss (2%), Azadirachta indica leaves (5.5%), Ocimum canum (tulsi leaves, 4%), cow urine (52%).