Bordeaux spray (Copper)

There are many copper compounds that are used as fungicides. The most common is Bordeaux mix which is a combination of copper sulphate and hydrated lime. It is accepted in organic farming provided that the number of applications is strictly followed and a proper soil amendment is observed to prevent copper accumulation in the soil.
Bordeaux mix spray
Materials needed to make a gallon mixture

• 3 ½ tbsp of copper sulphate
• 10 tbsp of hydrated lime
• 1 gallon of water (4 liters of water)
• Wooden stick
• Plastic bucket

How to prepare?

1. Add copper sulphate and hydrated lime in water. Make sure to use plastic container.
2. Stir well using a wooden sick or ladle.
3. Protect self from direct contact with the solution.

How to use?

1. Spray plants thoroughly preferably early in the morning, in a dry and sunny day. In this way, the plants have the time to dry and the solution can not penetrate into the leaves’ tissues
2. Constantly shake the sprayer while in the process of application to prevent the solution from clogging

Pest controlled

1. Flea beetles on tomatoes and potatoes
2. Anthracnose
3. Bacterial blight
4. Bacterial wilt
5. Black spot
6. Downy mildew
7. Late blight on solanaceous crops
8. Powdery mildew
9. Rust
10. and many other disease causing pathogens

Standard procedures for the preparation and application of homemade extracts

1. Select plant parts that are free from diseases.
2. When storing the plant parts for future usage, make sure that they are properly dried and are stored in an airy container (never use plastic container), away from direct sunlight and moisture. Make sure that they are free from molds before using them.
3. Use utensils for the extract preparation that are not use for your food preparation and for drinking and cooking water containers. Clean properly all the utensils every time after using them.
4. Do not have a direct contact with the crude extract while in the process of the preparation and during the application.
5. Make sure that you place the plant extract out of reach from children and house pets when leaving it overnight.
6. Harvest all the mature and ripe fruits before plant extract application.
7. Always test the plant extract formulation on a few infested plants first before going into large scale spraying. When adding soap as an emulsifier, use a potash-based one.
8. Wear protective clothing while applying the extract.
9. Wash your hands after handling the plant extract.

Baking Soda

(Sodium bicarbonate)

Baking soda is a white soluble compound that has fungicidal properties when used as spray on diseased plants. It also serves as protectant (on plants) from disease-causing pathogens.
Method 1

• Mix 1 tbsp of baking soda and 1 tbsp of dormant oil or vegetable oil
• Add 4 liters of water
• Stir well
• Add ½ tbsp of dish washing liquid soap
• Stir it again

Method 2

• Dissolve 1 tbsp of baking soda in 4 cups of warm water
• Add 1 tsp of liquid soap
• Stir well

Method 3

• Mix 1 tbsp of baking soda and 2 1/2 tbsp of vegetable oil
• Add 4 liters of water
• Stir well

How to apply?

1. Fill-in water can or sprinkler.
2. Stir or shake the container from time to time to prevent soda from separating.
3. Repeat application every after 2 weeks.
4. Apply baking soda spray as soon as the symptoms appear. Be sure to include the undersides of the plants’ foliage.

Pest controlled

1. Powdery mildew
2. Black spot
3. and other fungal diseases

Standard procedures for the preparation and application of homemade extracts

1. Select plant parts that are free from diseases.
2. When storing the plant parts for future usage, make sure that they are properly dried and are stored in an airy container (never use plastic container), away from direct sunlight and moisture. Make sure that they are free from molds before using them.
3. Use utensils for the extract preparation that are not use for your food preparation and for drinking and cooking water containers. Clean properly all the utensils every time after using them.
4. Do not have a direct contact with the crude extract while in the process of the preparation and during the application.
5. Make sure that you place the plant extract out of reach from children and house pets when leaving it overnight.
6. Harvest all the mature and ripe fruits before plant extract application.
7. Always test the plant extract formulation on a few infested plants first before going into large scale spraying. When adding soap as an emulsifier, use a potash-based one.
8. Wear protective clothing while applying the extract.
9. Wash your hands after handling the plant extract.

Field sanitation

Field sanitation is an important and highly effective farm practice to keep most pests under control.

1. Use sterilized or diseased-free seeds for sowing.
2. Properly select healthy plants for transplanting.
3. Keep weeds under control at all times. Keep the surroundings of your farm free of weeds, unless they are maintained and intended as habitat for natural enemies.
4. Make yourself ‘clean’. Always bear in mind that you might be the carrier of the pests while you move from one plant to another.
5. Pull plants that are heavily infected with insect pests and those that are showing heavy symptoms of disease infection.
6. Prune the plant parts where insect pests are found congregating and those that are showing heavy symptoms of disease infection.
7. Properly dispose all the infested plants. Do not put them on compost pile.
8. Pick rotten fruits and collect those that dropped. Diseased and pest infested fruits must be properly disposed. Do not put them on compost pile.
9. Plow-under the crop residues and organic mulches. This improves the soil condition and helps disrupt the pest’s lifecycle. The pest is exposed to extreme temperature, mechanical injury, and predators.
10. Maintain cleanliness on the irrigation canals.
11. When possible, remove all the crop residues after harvest. Add these to your compost pile.
12. Make your own compost. Your compost pile is where you can place your plant trimmings and other plant debris.
13. Clean your farm tools. Wash plows, harrows, shovels, trowels, pruning gears, bolos after use. Lightly oil pruning gears.

Seed treatment

These are the available seed treatment solutions that can be used to treat seeds before they are planted.

Gliricidia bark extract
(Stoll; p.125)

1. Chop 1 kg of Gliricidia bark.
2. Add enough water.
3. Soak 13 kg of corn seeds for 12-14 hours.
4. Discard seeds that float.
5. Immediately sow the seeds in a well prepared field.

Pest controlled: Seedborne pathogens on corn

 

Sweetflag rhizome extract
(Sridhar, et. al; p. 40)

1. Pound or grind dried sweetflag rhizome.
2. Take 10 g sweetflag rhizome powder and add 60 ml of water.
3. Mix properly.
4. Strain.
5. Soak the seeds into the filtrate for 30 minutes before sowing.
6. Discard seeds that float.
7. Sow seeds on well prepared soil.

Pests controlled: Seedborne pathogens

 

Sweetflag rhizome and cow’s urine extract
(Sridhar, et. al; p. 40)

1. Boil 1 l of water and let it cool.
2. Mix 50 ml of cow’s urine, 50 ml of sweetflag powder extract, and 1 l of water.
3. Add the seeds into the filtrate.
4. Soak seeds for 15 minutes before sowing.

Pest controlled: Seedborne pathogens

 

Vinegar solution

1. Mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 4 cups of water
2. Place the seeds on a small cotton bag
3. Dip the bag into the vinegar and water solution
4. Dry dipped seeds on old newspapers and make sure that seeds are completely dry before storing

 

Bleach solution

1. Mix 1 part of bleach to 9 parts of water
2. Place the seeds on a small cotton bag
3. Dip the bag into the bleach solution
4. Dry dipped seeds on old newspapers and make sure that seeds are completely dry before storing

 

Hot water treatment

Hot water treatment is used to help reduce the seedborne pathogens that cause diseases on plants. However, the specified temperature and time interval should be strictly followed in order to keep the effectiveness of the seeds to germinate. Ask for assistance from qualified personnel from your local agriculturist office if you are unable to do this. 

Procedure

1. In a large pot put plenty of water.
2. Heat the water following the required temperature.
3. Place seeds in loose cotton bag and submerge it in water. Follow strictly the recommended temperature and the time interval required. It is important that the water is maintained at a uniform temperature throughout the container.
4. Constantly stir the water while soaking the bag.
5. Suspend the bag- do not let it touch the bottom of the pot.
6. Remove the bag and emerge it in cold water to quickly stop the heating.
7. Spread the seeds to cool and dry.
8. Do not store treated seeds. Sow them on well-prepared seedbeds.

 

Heat treatment recommendations

1. Brussels sprout, cabbage, eggplant, tomato, spinach – 122°F/50°C: 25 minutes (Nesmith,1994)
2. Broccoli, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, carrot, collards, kale, kohlrabi, turnips – 122°F/50°C: 20 minutes (Nesmith,1994)
3. Pepper – 125°F/51.6°C: 30 minutes (Nesmith,1994)
4. Tomato – 125°F/51.6°C: 30 minutes (CABI, 2004)
5. Eggplant – 122°F/50°C: 30 minutes (Ellis; Bradley, 1996 p.423)
6. Carrots – 118°F/47.7°C: 20 minutes (Ellis; Bradley, 1996 p.423)

Lemongrass extract

Lemongrass

Common names: Citronella, Citronella grass, Lemongrass 
Scientific name: Cymbopogon marginatus, C. nardus, C. citratus
Family: Gramineae 

 
Photo courtesy of Les Bohm

Plant parts used: Leaves, roots

Mode of action: Insecticidal, repellent

Lemongrass extract (Stoll, 2000: p. 171) 

50 g of ground lemongrass 
2 liters of water

Method of preparation: Soak the ground lemongrass into water for few hours. Strain.

How to use: Spray onto lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots

Target pests: Leaf blight, Bacticidal

Standard procedures for the preparation and application of the plant extracts

1. Select plant parts that are free from diseases.
2. When storing the plant parts for future usage, make sure that they are properly dried and are stored in an airy container (never use plastic container), away from direct sunlight and moisture. Make sure that they are free from molds before using them.
3. Use utensils for the extract preparation that are not use for your food preparation and for drinking and cooking water containers. Clean properly all the utensils every time after using them.
4. Do not have a direct contact with the crude extract while in the process of the preparation and during the application.
5. Make sure that you place the plant extract out of reach from children and house pets when leaving it overnight.
6. Harvest all the mature and ripe fruits before plant extract application.
7. Always test the plant extract formulation on a few infested plants first before going into large scale spraying. When adding soap as an emulsifier, use a potash-based one.
8. Wear protective clothing while applying the extract.
9. Wash your hands after handling the plant extract.

Fusarium wilt

Fusarium wilt is a kind of fungus that infects a plant through its roots, and then through its main body and killing it. Initial symptoms include a yellowing on the edges of the leaves that will eventually spread to the entire leaf, causing it to fall off. It then spreads to the xylem or main body of the plant, changing the way of how the plant carries nutrients and water throughout the plant and eventually killing the plant off. Once fusarium wilt affects an area, it will remain and affect any other crops that will grow there. In such cases the affected area will need to be sterilized. There is no effective way known to control or reverse fusarium wilt.

These are the conditions that causes fusarium:
- Infested planting materials
- Infested soil

These are the preventative measures for the wilt:
– Use wilt-resistant cultivars whenever possible.
– Practice a proper crop rotation strategy.
– Remove and destroy infested plant materials after harvest. However, do not put these into your compost pit or pile. Compost from such materials will contain the fungi.
– Grow healthy plants with appropriate fertilization, irrigation, and weed control.

Damping off

Damping off is a disease that starts from the seeds of the plant. Affected seedlings will sprout normally, and then die off. It causes the root of the sprout to rot off, causing the sprout to fall off the ground as if it has been cut off from the root. There will also be the presence of a mould on the soil as well. This is a very common problem and affects even seasoned gardeners. If untreated, it can spread very fast and destroy an entire garden very quickly. There is no cure for dampening off but it can be prevented.

These are the conditions that cause damping off
- Lack of air circulation and sunlight
- Diseased seeds
- Over fertilization

These are the prevention methods:
- Buy sterilized seed starting soil.
- Use clean, sterilized containers.
- Provide plenty of air circulation and sunlight.
- Let the surface of the soil dry out between watering.
- Stir the top of the soil around the seedlings.
- Put plants in a sunny location.

Corn smut

Corn smut is the formation of galls in the bud of the corn that will develop into full blown spores. It destroys the corn completely and it is caused by a fungus. The fungus spreads fast in the form of spores through manure or through the wind. Affected corn form galls or sacks, which then replaces the corn cobs and develop into black, foul blisters in the place of the cobs. They usually infect corn through wounds found on the corn, or on newly formed silks and can usually be seen on the ears but can also infect other parts of the plant as well.

These are the conditions that cause corn smut
- Nitrogen rich soil
- Diseased seeds.
- Warm rainy days with high humidity.
- Insect pests.

These are the prevention methods:
- Use of diseased-free seeds that are selected from healthy mother plants.
- Control insect pests.
- Split nitrogen application.
- Removal and proper disposal of infected plant debris.
- Avoid field activities when the plants are wet.
- There is unfortunately no cure for corn smut.

Anthracnose

Anthracnose, aslo known as canker causes the plants to form dead tissue in the form of spots over time, and in most cases kills the plant eventually. Anthracnose can be caused by a number of factors, namely bacteria and fungus and can be easily spread by animals passing by or even by the weather. Once a plant is affected by anthracnose, they die very fast and affect parts have to be cut off as soon as possible, although sometimes it can be cured but such cases are rare. You know a plant is affected by anthracnose when spots of dead tissue appear on the fruits or on various parts of the plant. In any case, the plant must be quickly isolated from the rest of the crops as anthracnose spreads very quickly.

Conditions that increase the risk for this disease are:
- Infected seeds and infected plant debris left in the field after harvest
- Moist and warm weather during the reproductive stages. Plants are most susceptible during the flowering stage from bloom to post harvest
- Badly drained soil
- Wet periods of about 12 hours or more favors the occurrence of infection
- Nutritionally stressed or unhealthy crops

The prevention
- Proper seed and planting materials selection. Sow only diseased-free seeds
- Proper field sanitation
- Seed treatment
- Transplant only healthy seedlings
- Remove and destroy infected parts but avoid touching other plant parts, especially when these are wet
- Harvest unripe but mature fruits
- Plow under all the plant debris after harvest
- Practice crop rotation. Take note of plants that are susceptible to anthracnose disease and rotate these with those that are resistant
- Keep area free of weeds

Possible cures:

- Baking soda spray
- Bordeaux spray

Leaf blight

Leaf blight is caused by bacteria and causes the leaves and stems of the plant to discolor and rot. It affects every part of the plant and is caused by a bacterial infection on the plant. Affected plants will have parts of its leaves and stems rotting. The rotting appears in brown spots and it appears primarily on leaves and fruit of the plant, but it can also appear everywhere else. The key characteristic of blight is that the rotting on the leaves appears as if the leaves have been submerged in water for too long. This disease can affect many plants as well as their fruits and can reduce harvest by a lot.

These are the conditions that causes blight:

- Warm temperature, frequent rain, and high humidity
- Over-crowded plants with poor air flow and low sunlight penetration among plants
- Improper soil nutrient and irrigation management
- Poor soil drainage
- Diseased-seeds and planting materials

These are the prevention steps for blight:
- Crop rotation with crops that are not susceptible to the bacteria
- Use of diseased-free seeds, diseased-free planting materials and cuttings, and use of resistant cultivars.
- Proper fertilization and water management
- Proper land preparation for better drainage
- Proper plant spacing for proper air circulation and sunlight penetration within plants
- Insect pest control as they may serve as the carrier of the bacteria
- Weed control
- No farm activities when plants are wet
- Clean farm tools
- Removal and proper disposal of infected plant parts
- Deep plowing to bury plant debris and followed by fallowing the area

These are the treatments for blight:
- Field sanitation
- Seed treatment
- Lemongrass extract