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Preparation of Neem
Products and Their Uses
Neem is attracting world
wide attention in recent decades mainly due to its bioactive
ingredients that find increasing use in modern crop and grain
protection. This chapter discusses the methods by which the neem
extracts can be prepared by the farmer himself.
Neem Kernel Extract
50 gm of neem kernel is required for use in 1 litre of water.
The neem kernel is pounded gently. It should be pounded in such a
way that no oil comes out. The outer coat is removed before
pounding. This used as manure. If pounded with seeds coat one and
half times (75g) seeds are required. The seeds that are used for
preparation of neem kernel extract should be atleast 3 months old
and should not be used after 8 to 10 months. Before 3 months or
after 8 months the azadirachtin quantity is quite low in the seeds
and hence it cannot be efficiently used for pest control. The
pounded neem kernel powder is gathered in a muslin pouch and this is
soaked overnight in the water. The pouch is squeezed and the extract
is filtered. To the filtrate an emulsifier like tween 80, sandovit,
soap oil, nirma or soap cake powder is added. One ml of emulsfier is
added to one litre of water. The emulsifier helps the extract to
stick well to the leaf surface.
Remarks:
The kernel extract should be milky white in colour and not brownish.
The kernel extract does not control sucking insect like aphids,
white flies and the stem borers. In these cases one could go in for
the use of neem oil spray solution.
Neem leaf Extract
For 5 litres of water, 1 kilogram of green neem leaf is
required. Since the quantity of leaves required for preparation of
this extract is quite high (nearly 80 kilograms are required for 1
hectare) this can be used for nursery and kitchen gardens. The
leaves are soaked overnight in water. The next day the leaves are
ground and the extract is filtered. The extract is beneficial against
leaf eating caterpillars, grubs, locusts and grasshoppers. To the
extract, emulsifier is added as mentioned for kernel extract.
Remark:
There is no need to boil the extract.
Boiling reduces the azadirachtin content. Hence the cold extract is
more effective. Some farmers prefer to soak the leaves for about on
week. However this creates a foul smell.
Neem Cake Extract
100 gm of neem cake is required for 1 litre of water. The neem
cake is put in a muslin pouch and soaked in water. It is soaked
overnight before use in the morning. It is then filtered and
emulsifier is added at the rate of 1 ml for 1 litre of water. It is
now ready for spraying.
Neem Oil Spray
30ml neem oil is added to 1 litre of
water and stirred will. Only then will the oil and water mix well.
To this emulsifier is added (1ml/1litre). It is very essential to
add the emulsifier and mix properly. It should be used immediately.
Otherwise oil droplets start floating. A knapsack sprayer is better
for neem oil spraying in preference to a hand sprayer.
General Remarks about Spraying
Insects lay eggs on the underside of
the leaves. Hence it is important to spray under the leaf also.
While using a power sprayer reduce the
quantity of water used to half.
It is better to use low concentration
of extracts frequently.
As a general guideline it
can be said that each acre of land to be protected can be sprayed
with 60 litres of ready to use solution (not the concentrate). Of
course the volume
may have to be varied depending on the exact condition such as the
intensity of the pest attack.
Neem America makes no claims about neem and its uses. This article
should only be used for informational purposes. |
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