Pesticidal Activity and Future Scenario of Fly ash Dust and Fly ash-Based Herbal Pesticides in Agriculture, Household, Poultry and Grains in Storage

Results showed that the fly ash as dust could be an active control factor in checking the infestation of crop pests and also safe to different non-target organisms like natural enemies, beneficial insects hovering in and around agro-ecosystems. Application of fly ash @ 40 kg/ha in rice had caused maximum mortality of 73.3% in leaf caterpillar followed by grasshopper (71.0%), horned caterpillar (68.8%). Nine fly ash-based herbal insecticides, viz. neem (Azadiracta indicia A. Juss.), Indian Privet (Vitex negundo Linn.), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.), Pongam (Pongamia pinnata Linn.), Turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.), Chilli (Capsicum annuum Linn.), Sweet flag (Acorus calamus Linn.), Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and Adathoda (Adhatoda vasica Linn.) were synthesised using fly ash as a carrier. The eventual fly ash-based herbal pesticides were evaluated against key pests of crops. In vegetables, the fly ash-based herbal pesticides manifested better results against major pests of bhendi and brinjal. Results showed that the combination of treatment fly ash + square stalked vein 10% D acted very effective against mandibulate termite soldier with maximum mortality followed by fly ash + French basil 10% D. The overall mean efficacy of lignite fly ash against housefly, a menace around poultry yard was observed at 83.33% mortality of maggots. These new class of herbal pesticides had also exhibited good control of insect pests, namely Tribolium castaneum Herbst, Callosobruchus chinensis Linn., attacking stored product.