Biological Control in Organic Agriculture

Abstract

Eco-friendly management of insect pests using sustainable measures is the need of the hour to prevent crop yield losses caused by pests. For sustainable agriculture, the use of biological methods, viz., botanicals, biological control, biopesticides, and pheromones for pest management, should be adopted and popularized on high priority. Chemical pesticides accumulate in the soil, disrupting its structure and fertility over time, causing long-term contamination and ecological imbalance. Biological control is a central component of integrated pest management (IPM), which constitutes an array of scientific methods adopted in both conventional and organic farming systems. The main objective of the study is to better understand the potential of botanicals in sustainable pest and disease management while maintaining ecological balance to assess the effectiveness of various botanical extracts or chemicals in eradicating specific pests, diseases, or weeds and to identify natural alternatives to synthetic pesticides and herbicides, thereby lowering the environmental and health dangers connected with chemical use. The study utilized search engines, research papers, online databases, and books, with data from various platforms contributing to this study. Unlike chemical pesticides, botanicals degrade quickly, hence enhancing soil health and maintaining rhizosphere microorganisms. They are cost-effective, non-toxic, and accessible for pest management. Botanicals are a sustainable alternative to agrochemicals that benefit soil health, protect microflora, and support organic farming. Plants, such as Azadirachta indica, Chrysanthemum, Pongamia, Lantana, Calotropis, Shorea robusta, etc., are used as botanicals. The development and utilization of botanicals in pest management offer an environmentfriendly and cost-effective approach. The focus should be on advancing wellresearched botanical solutions to promote sustainable agriculture. These botanicals can play a crucial role in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. By integrating these natural solutions into sustainable agricultural practices, we can reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides, minimize ecological harm, and promote long-term agricultural productivity and soil health. © 2025, Bentham Books imprint..