The Role of Plant Extracts in Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Environmental and toxicological problems have significantly increased from the last couple of decades due to non-judicial agrochemicals. There is a drastic decrease in the growth and yield of most crops due to diseases and infections, and globally the insects and pests reduce the overall crop production by nearly 20%. In the wake of all this, the novelty and application of biopesticides are increasing tremendously and are effectively used as green pesticides globally. Many plant extracts from various plants like neem (Azadirachta indica) showed promising effectiveness as antimicrobials. Found relatively safe, they received greater acceptance from the users. In industrialized countries, botanical pesticides have been actively used in integrated pest management (IPM) for organic farming.

Further, due to the harmful nature of chemical pesticides, demand to use biocontrol agents in the agricultural industry is increasing vigorously. Researchers and scientists are now exploring more and more available alternatives that are relatively more eco-friendly, non-toxic and readily biodegradable. They are focusing on various types of plant extracts which can be applied in green agriculture. Some of the potentially effective plant extracts obtained from the rhizome of ginger (Z. officinale), garlic (A. sativum), pawpaw (C. papaya), neem (A. indica), independent weed (C. odorata), bitter kola (G. kola), miracle tree (M. oleifera), etc. are economically efficient, eco-friendly and helpful for sustainable agricultural and horticultural.