Neem tree seeds

[Lambsbreath]

I would like to find some Neem tree seeds, does someone grow this tree or know a link to find seeds ?
Neem tree is growing mostly in India, but also in Africa (Ghana) and south america .

 

[Guest]

http://www.naturalcosmeticsupplies.com/neem-leaves.html

 

[Guest]

The seeds of neem do not live long and are usually planted as soon as possible

http://www.neemaus.com.au/shop/index.php?target=categories&category_id=180

 

[Lambsbreath]

Brainthor : thanx man , good link , i will purchase a 25 seed package and see if it grows good here, i'm having 5ha ground where i want to grow mostly medicinal plants from here and all over the world (like mj too !).
After 2 or 3 years neem tree produce fruit and i should be abble to to make oil from the seeds.
Neem is not only used for insect repellent but also skin diseases, human and animals health.

It should grow where i live ( south amerika , 5°North) as it's growing in Thailand (8° north to equator )

 

[Guest]

Alternatives to chemical pesticides
By Sudhir Dahiya

Increasing pressure of population per unit area has created many problems for traditional cultivation. The shrinking land resources have necessitated redoubling efforts for enhancing agricultural production. It is not easy since several ecological, economic and sociological problems are being faced on the farm front. Insects, pests, diseases and weeds are important biotic constraints influencing 20 to 25 per cent loss in agriculture production. Synthetic pesticides have played a key role in declining most of these problems. However, their indiscriminate use has created several problems like pesticide resistance insects, contamination of food by toxic chemicals, resurgence of pests and acute effects on non-target organisms.

Recent experiences in intensive cropping shows the necessity of new natural compounds as alternative to chemical pesticides. These botanical pesticides being less persistent in environment, safe to mammals and pollinators like honey bees, butterflies and other non-target organisms. These are cheaper than synthetic pesticides and their crude extracts are easy to prepare even by farmers. The worldover stress is switched on to plant-originated insecticides. Many plant species are found in our forests which yield these insecticides. It is a matter of great proud that many of them are found in India.

Neem is the most promising source of bio-pesticide. It owes its toxic attributes to a large number of insecticidal compounds like azardirachitin, nimbin, meliacins, salanin, meliantriol, etc, among which azardirachitin is the most potent one. Though all the plant parts possess insecticidal properties, yet they are more pronounced in seed kernels. Neem seed kernels are the richest source of meliacins and contains 0.2 to 0.3 per cent azardirachitin and 30 to 40 percent oil, though neem leaves, seed coat and bark also contain these but in smaller amount. The insecticides obtained from neem have been found effective against more than 200 pests, insects, of agricultural, horticultural, vegetable crops and house hold pests like locusts, grass hoppers, catterpillars, stem borers, pod borers, beetles, jassids, aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, plant hoppers, fruit flies and mosquitoes. Neem products are highly photodegrable ensuring their non-resistance in the environment. These also do not induce pest resurgence unlike other synthetic pesticides. Insect developing resistance to single active compounds of synthetic pesticides may not be able to develop resistance to neem compounds as they contain numerous bio-active principles.

Sweet flag is another promising plant. Locally, it is called-”gorbach” or “vacha”. This is marsh herb resembles elephant grass. It grows throughout India up to an elevation of 200 metres. The leaves and root of the plant yield an insecticide which is effective against number of crop pests, stored grain pests, textile pests and household pests.

Garlic acts as repellent to various pests. It can be inter-cropped to prevent pests. Garlic is planted as a border around the field and gardens. It is grown around fruit trees to repel borers. The extract of garlic cloves is used as spray and powder can also be dusted on plants to check pests attacks. The powder of dried garlic leaves, mixed with ash protect materials in storage.

Pyrethrum is another promising plant-originated insecticide. It is obtained from the flowers of an ornamental flower called chrysanthemum cinerarifolium (guldaudi). It has guide knock effect and is effective against a number of insects and pests. It is highly photo degradable and does not persist in the environment and is relatively safe to mammals.

Rotenone is derived from the roots of derris eliptica and derris lonchocarpus. Before the entry of synthetic insecticides in the market, it was being widely used for the control of pests of vegetables, fruits and ornamental crops. It has been used as a traditional fish poison since the past 300 years. It is very effective against household and kitchen garden pests. It is also effective against livestock pests like lice and rat fleas.

The crushed roots of marigold provide good control of root knot nematode, when applied to soil. The extract from roots of marigold is also effective against larvae of yellow fever mosquito.

The seed extract of custard apple (annona squamosa) is efficacious against diamond back moth.

Ryania is bio-active compound extracted from ryania speciosa. It is largely used to control codling moth on apples by organic growers.

The seed extract of grape fruit can be used to control colarado potato beetle and bark extract of darek (melia azedarch) act as potent antifeedants against tobacco caterpillar and gram pod borer.

The other plants which possess insecticidal properties include lemon grass, argemon mexicana cassia, artemisia, tulsi, sigesbekia, bandh (samhaloo), tirmir back eye tree, cashew tree, pannior vetiver grass and certain essential oils obtained from the plants like citronello, lemon grass, cassia, cleve, pine needle, perpuntive, comphor and thyme also possess insecticidal properties.

Some weeds like lantana, milk-weed, etc. also contain toxic compounds, their utilisation in pest control can serve twin purposes of pest and weed control.

India was a vast wealth of plants, which are rich source of bio-active compounds and several more might still be lying unexplored. While investigation for more source of botanicals will continue, the concerted efforts are needed to make the available compounds more potent against pest and more safe to environment by way of improved formulation. Sometimes farmers may also have inhibition for use of botanicals because they may have impression that simple, inexpensive and easy to prepare are inferior to synthetic pesticides. The awareness of farmer about the advantage of botanical over synthetic pesticides needs to be created in this regard. These botanical pesticides in harmonious integration with other safe method of pests control like biological control, trap crops, cultural practices, etc. can provide environment friendly and economically viable means of pest control in the near future.