Effect of Nalco Fly Ash Based Herbal Pesticides Against Pests of Cucurbits

Fly-ash is amorphous ferro-alumino silicate, an important solid waste around Nalco Captive power plant, Angul. It creates problems leading to environmental degradation due to improper utilization. However, fly-ash is useful ameliorant that may improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils and is a source of readily available plant macro and micronutrients when it is used with bio-solids. Supply of nutrients from fly-ash with bio-solids may enhance their agricultural use. The effect of Nalco (NFA) fly-ash-based herbal pesticides on certain insect groups is reported here. The five Nalco fly-ash based herbal pesticides showed efficiency in withdrawing, various groups of pests infecting curcurbits, thus indicating them to be potential bio-pesticides. Among all the treatments, Nalco fly-ash taken seed kernel 10% dust were found to be the most effective against all the test insects, including Epilachna on cucubita and Acalymma on cucumber, followed by NFA + Vitex 10% dust and NFA + Eucalyptus 10% dust and NFA + Ocimum 10% dust.