Strengthening vegetable defense mechanisms against insect-pests and diseases through neem-enriched organic manures and beneficial soil microbe inoculation

Downloads

Published

2025-12-31

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2025.82.4.5

Keywords:

Balanced nutrition, crop damage, disease infestation, resistance induction, plant-protection mechanism
Dimensions Badge

Issue

Vol. 82 No. 04 (2025): Indian Journal of Horticulture

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Raju Lal Bhardwaj, Anita Sharma, Premlata Meena

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Authors

  • Raju Lal Bhardwaj College of Agriculture, Baytu-Barmer, Agriculture University, Jodhpur (Rajasthan) 344 034, India
  • Anita Sharma College of Agriculture, Sumerpur-Pali 306 902, Agriculture University, Jodhpur (Rajasthan), India
  • Premlata Meena Agricultural Research Sub Station, Sumerpur-Pali 306 902, Agriculture University, Jodhpur, India

Abstract

The overuse of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides for vegetable production has degraded soil fertility, reduced populations of beneficial microorganisms, and weakened the natural resistance of crops to biotic stress. As a result, crops have become more vulnerable to insect-pests and diseases, while human health and the environment also face significant risks. To overcome these challenges, adopting eco-friendly alternatives such as compost made from neem leaves, vermicompost, and utilising plant growth-promoting microorganisms is crucial. These sustainable practices not only enhance crop growth and yield but also naturally control insectpests and diseases, promoting both environmental sustainability and human well-being. A long-term field experiment was conducted from 2019–20 to 2023–24 at the College of Agriculture, Sumerpur-Pali, to evaluate the effects of six different combinations of chemical fertilizers and neem-enriched organic manures, along with the inoculation of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs), on the induction of systemic resistance in various vegetable crops. The results revealed that substituting chemical fertilizers with neem-enriched organic manure, combined with PGPMs inoculation, significantly enhanced the plants’ natural defense mechanisms and reduced the incidence of insect-pests and diseases. Compared to conventional chemical fertilizers, insect-pest and disease damage was reduced by 75.15% in green peas, 74.33% in cowpeas, 77.84% in cluster beans, 72.93% in cabbage, and 69.22% in cucurbits. These findings highlight the crucial role of neem-based compost and beneficial soil microbes in promoting systemic resistance, reducing reliance on agrochemicals, and fostering both food safety and environmental sustainability.

How to Cite

Bhardwaj, R. L., Sharma, A., & Meena , P. (2025). Strengthening vegetable defense mechanisms against insect-pests and diseases through neem-enriched organic manures and beneficial soil microbe inoculation. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 82(04), 415–420. https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2025.82.4.5

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Aslam, Z., Bashir, S., Hassan, W., Belliturk, K., Ahmad, N. and Niazi, N.K. 2019. Unveiling the efficiency of vermicompost derived from different biowastes on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plant growth and soil health. Agronomy-Basel 9: 791.

2. Bhardwaj, R.L., Parashar, A., Parewa, H.P. and Vyas, L. 2024. An alarming decline in the nutritional quality of foods: the biggest challenge for future generations’ health. Foods, 13: 877.

3. Bhardwaj, R.L., Vyas, L., Verma, M.P., Meena, S.C., Chattopadhyay, A., Meena, N.K., Jakhar, D.S. and Kumawat, S.R. 2025. Increasing productivity and recovering nutritional, organoleptic, and nutraceutical qualities of major vegetable crops for better dietetics. Foods 14: 254.

4. Dabhi, M.V. and Patel, J.J. 2013. Assessment of infestation and losses caused by insect-pests in vegetable crops. J. Agric. Sci. Technol. 38(1): 95-98.

5. Maksimov, I.V., Abizgil’dina, R.R. and Pusenkova, L.I. 2011. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria as an alternative to chemical crop protectors from pathogens (Review). Appl.Biochem. Microbiol. 47: 333-45.

6. Martin-Cardoso, H. and San Segundo, B. 2025. Impact of nutrient stress on plant disease resistance. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 26: 1780.

7. Medhi A.K., Dey P.C., Bharali A., Borah S.R. and Saikia R. 2024. Effect of organic nutrient management practices on growth, yield, and pest incidence of scented rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the rainfed situation of Assam. Environ. Ecol. 42 (2): 367-373.

8. Pandey, P. and Ghimire, A. 2022. Effect of macronutrients and micronutrients on crop disease development and management: A Review. Nepalese J. Agric. Sci. 22: 204-19.

9. Paramasiva, I., Rajasekhar, P., Harathi, P.N. and Vineetha, U. 2020. Incidence of insect-pests of rice as affected by organic and inorganic fertilizers. J. Entomol. Zool Studies 8(4): 638-41.

10. Rashid, M.H. and Chung, Y.R. 2017. Induction of systemic resistance against insect herbivores in plants by beneficial soil microbes. Front. Plant Sci. 8:1816.

11. Sande, T.J., Tindwa, H.J., Alovisi, A.M.T., Shitindi, M.J. and Semoka, J.M. 2024. Enhancing sustainable crop production through integrated nutrient management: a focus on vermicompost, bio-enriched rock phosphate, and inorganic fertilisers – A systematic review. Front. Agron. 6:1422876.

12. Sarawaneeyaruk S., Krajangsang S. and Pringsulaka O. 2015. The effects of neem extract and azadirachtin on soil. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 15(4): 1071-83.

13. Thakur, R., Verma, S., Gupta, S., Negi, G. and Bhardwaj, P. 2022. Role of soil health in plant disease management: A Review. Agric. Rev. 43(1): 70-76.

14. Tikoria, R., Sharma, N., Kour, S., Kumar, D. and Ohri, P. 2022. Vermicomposting: an effective alternative in integrated pest management. In: Earthworm Engineering and Applications, Nova Science Publishers, New York, pp. 103–18.

15. Tripathi, R., Tewari, R., Singh, K.P., Keswani, C., Minkina, T., Srivastava, A.K., De Corato, U. and Sansinenea, E. 2022. Plant mineral nutrition and disease resistance: A significant linkage for sustainable crop protection. Front. Plant Sci. 13: 883970.

16. Vacheron, J., Desbrosses, G., Bouffaud, M.L., Touraine, B., Moenne-Loccoz, Y. and Muller, D. 2013. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and the root system functioning. Front. Plant Sci. 4: 356.

17. Valenzuela-Soto, J.H., Estrada-Hernandez, M.G., Ibarra-Laclette, E. and Delano-Frier, J.P. 2010. Inoculation of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) with growth-promoting Bacillus subtilis retards whitefly Bemisia tabaci development. Planta 231: 397–410.

18. van de Mortel, J.E., de Vos, R.C., Dekkers, E., Pineda, A., Guillod, L. and Bouwmeester, K. 2012. Metabolic and transcriptomic changes induced in Arabidopsis by the rhizobacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens SS101. Plant Physiol. 160: 2173–88.

19. Zhang, H., Zhu, J., Gong, Z. and Zhu, J.K. 2022. Abiotic stress responses in plants. Nat. Rev. Genet. 23: 104–19.

20. Zhang, S., Raza, W. and Yang, X. 2008. Control of Fusarium wilt disease of cucumber plants with the application of a bioorganic fertilizer. Biol. Fertil. Soils 44: 1073- 80.

Similar Articles

<< < 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.