Indigenous approaches for pest management in vegetables with special reference to coriander in Southern Rajasthan, India

Abstract

The present survey-based study was conducted to record the indigenous pest management practices which were based on the use of various ethnobotanical plant parts, animal bi-products etc., for vegetable pest control by the farmers of tribal communities in four tribal districts of Southern Rajasthan. Data revealed that nowadays, indigenous knowledge of insect-pest management is being kept alive in age-old people of few communities and tribes of Southern Rajasthan are amongst the communities in which some farmers are still practicing indigenous methods for controlling pests on vegetables. 28 indigenous practices constituted by locally available wild plants constituents, animal by products, natural resource and few spiritual means were applied with age-old knowledge of farmers recorded effective management of various insect-pests infesting vegetables including coriander. The highest Fic value was recorded for aphids followed by thrips and jassids. The use value was recorded in the range of 0.09 to 0.69 for all locations. The highest UV 0.69 secured for indigenous practices of Neem leaf extract; cow butter milk + cow dung ash + chilli seed powder; Neem seed kernel extract and ker plant + neem leaf + negadi leaf extract. These practices were easy in preparation, cost-effective, eco-friendly and widely acceptable by the community in region need to be documented for future reference.