THE SIMPLEST WAY TO BIOLOGICALLY CONTROL FALL ARMY WARM: PEPPER AND WOOD ASH.

WHAT IS FALL ARMY WARM?

 

The fall armyworm is a heavy feeder that quickly destroys the maize crop. It can destroy an entire crop if it is not controlled on time. It can spread fast, and can fly over 30 kilometres in one night assisted by the wind. The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) derives the name from its’ feeding habits whereby they eat everything in an area until it is over and the entire "army" then moves to the next available food source.

DAMAGE:

The pest is very aggressive because while invading a new area, it has few or no natural enemies. The larval stage of the fall armyworm is the most destructive stage. The fall armyworm larval stage burrows into crops, destroys and eventually kills the plants. Their damage appears as tattered edges and holes on leaves, tassels and/or ears.

HOST CROPS:

They prefer to feed on maize but also target wheat, millet, cotton, sorghum, sugarcane, tobacco, potatoes and rice. Larvae feed on maize leaves and may attack the tassels and/or ears of maize.

MULTIPLICATION:

The adult female begins laying eggs after 3 or 4 days and lays about 150 eggs a day for 8 to 10 days and between 1500 and 2000 eggs in a lifetime.
The lack of rains and the increased temperatures provide the right conditions for the rapid multiplication of the fall armyworm and other pests

ATTEMPTED BUT FAILED CHEMICAL CONTROL:

The chemical sprays have however proven futile as the worm is quite resistant to the major synthetics agro-chems. The chemicals further contaminate the environment and cause major health risks to humans, livestock and biodiversity especially the non-targeted organisms.

• WHAT WORKS: BIOPESTICIDE

Ground chilli(pepper) + Wood ash.

1. Buy ripe chilli powder (pepper) from the market or prepare your own using ripe pepper.
2. Dry the pepper and make powder by either grinding or pounding, remove the big particles and leave the fine powder.
3. Sieve cold wood ash from the fireplace.
4. Get 1 tin gorogoro (2kg tin or plastic) of ash.
5. Mix 1 gorogoro of wood ash with 5 teaspoonfuls of chilli powder.
6. Mix the chilli and woods properly by shaking them in a container.
7. Put the mixture in a used pesticide container that has small holes.
8. Apply the mixture from the container by shaking it once into each plant funnel.

Note: For good results, apply the mixture immediately you see the worms in the maize and repeat the same if you notice any pests in the maize or pest damage to your crop. Note: In the case of severe infestation, farmers can use the ash and pepper mix other biopesticides to control the fall armyworm.

This is a proven workable environment- friendly control measure for this worm with devastating effect on our local farmers!

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BIODEGRADABLE' DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN EARTH-FRIENDLY

The draconian ban on plastics* came in on 28 August 2017, threatening up to four years’ imprisonment or fines of 4M or $40,000 for anyone producing, selling – or even just carrying – a plastic bag.

Plastic carrier, packaging and planting bags were to be replaced with biodegradable bags in the well known Plastic ban in Kenya in a bid to have a cleaner environment as enshrined in the Constitution.

How effective has this bold step been?

First thing first.

What is Biodegradation?

It is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi.

A process by which microbial organisms transform or alter (through metabolic or enzymatic action) the structure of chemicals introduced into the environment.

The word biodegradable is distinct in meaning from compostable.

1. Biodegradable: An object capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. Decomposition need good amount of oxygen to occur.

2. Compostable: Capable of undergoing biological decomposition in a compost site such that the material is not visually distinguishable and breaks down into carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds and biomass at a rate consistent with known compostable materials.

3. Plastic: A material consisting of any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic compounds that are malleable (can be molded into solid objects). They decompose over a long period of time; depending on various factors.

4. Biodegradable bags:  Bags or wrappers made of polymers or starch that presumable should degrade by biological means faster than plastics. Are capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

And i quote BBC,

"But the bags aren’t always as environmentally friendly as they seem. They’re made from similar petrochemical-based materials to conventional plastic, only with compounds added that cause them to disintegrate gradually in the presence of light or oxygen. They often then degrade into a sludge of toxic chemicals." Here

Plastics and Climate Change

The success and dominance of plastics started in the early 20th century leading to environmental concerns regarding its slow decomposition rate after being discarded as trash due to its composition of large molecules. Most plastics are durable and degrade very slowly, as their chemical structure renders them resistant to many natural processes of degradation.

Polymer degradation takes much longer as a result of saline environments and the cooling effect of the sea.

That is why waterbodies suffer most from plastic disposal.

Plastic Effects On Climate Change

The effect of plastics on global warming is mixed. Plastics are generally made from petroleum. If the plastic is incinerated, it increases carbon emissions; if it is placed in a landfill, it becomes a carbon sink although biodegradable plastics have caused methane emissions, a greenhouse gas.

Magics Of Biodegradables

"Simply calling something biodegradable and not defining in what environment it is going to be biodegradable and in what time period it is going to degrade is very misleading and deceptive." said Ramani Narayan, a chemical engineer at Michigan State University in East Lansing, and science consultant to the Biodegradable Plastics Institute.

QUESTION:

Are the biodegradable planting bags a better alternative?

I do not know.

What i know from experience and experiment is that upon burning the biodegradable bags i realized it burns just like plastics do and take more than 180 days to rot in the soil.

They presumably take 180 days to decompose, do they? According to me, No.

But they are purportedly made of starch, organic materials.

I realized that it doesn't disintegrate any differently faster.

Can you plant seedlings with it, now that it is degrades biologically? 

I learnt that when used in raising seedlings, the seedling at the edges of the potbed seem to lose water faster.

During watering, water seeps or leaks slowly through porous material or small holes without reaching the bottom.

NOTE: Despite the introduction of the biodegradable planting bags, even the government forestry agencies still use polybags much after expiry of the extended grace period into late last year. When they should lead in the front!

SHARE YOU EXPERIENCE ON BIODEGRADABLES:

a) Suitability
b) Cost
c) Durability
d) Water efficiency
e) Degradation/decomposition
f)  Environmental friendliness etc

HOW TO PLANT A TREE IN THE RIGHT WAY

The rains are here and the call is plant trees.

But wait.

How many people can plant a tree(s) properly?

Photo credit: istock.com

It is noteworthy to point out that not all who would want to plant a tree(s) attended forestry class. Hence the need for the post.

First thing first.

Why plant trees?

Trees clean the air we breathe, decrease air pollution, mitigate climate change, support wildlife, slow storm water runoff, conserve rainwater, buffer noise pollution, and bolster people’s health, provide fuelwood,construction material and money.

Which tree to plant ?

Start by looking around the neighborhood. Make a list of trees that appeal to you through the seasons and which ones appear to flourish. Visit local parks and arboretums to see native trees that have already adapted to your region and tend to succeed. A forester, local arborist, and county extension officer can also identify the best trees for your area. Do your research before selecting a variety. Visualize the tree’s mature size and shape and how it would fit in with your landscape

What size to plant ?

When buying a new tree seedling, go for sturdiness over speed. Sturdy seedlings are healthy, vibrant and disease free. Recommended size for planting is from 30cm or 1ft high seedlings.

How to plant tree correctly.

Digging a wide planting hole is the key to fast growth of your new tree. Recommendations often specify a hole twice as wide as the root ball; three times as wide is even better. The depth should be no more than the height of the root ball.

1. Marking a planting hole:

The distance between one tree to the other depends on its crown at full growth. Tree with wider crown at maturity should be more spaced than those with smaller ones. Common spacing are 1x1, 2x2, 4x4, 4.5x4.5, 5x5, 7x7 etc. All are in metres.

2. Digging the hole(Pitting)

Prepare a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball of your tree seedling. Common dimension is 1ft by 1ft by 1ft hole. This is for rootballs in 4x6 polytubes which is a half foot high.

Photo credit: istock.com

Note:Sperate top soil from subsoil by placing a half of the dug soil on either sides of the hole. Top soil is the humus richest, needed for backfilling.

3. Put the seedling in the hole.

Handle the root ball carefully to keep it intact while you place it in middle of the hole. Once  it's in, turn it so the best side of the tree is facing the direction you want.

Note: Ensure the seedling's root collar( where soil reaches when seedling in in the tube) is in level with ground level.

4. Backfill with soil.

Return the dug top soil back to the hole around the root ball as you press back the soil with your palm or heel (lightly) to remove air pockets( trapped air in the soil). Frequently check the trunk to ensure that it's straight. Use leftover soil as a barrier on lower side of the  slope (2inches high and 1ft away from the stem) for flowing water to create a watering well.

Non-stagnant-water tolerant-tree -species' holes ,unlike others, should be backfilled completely without leaving a depresion e.g Melia volkensii( mukau). 

You can mix the top soil with organic manure(FYM) in the ratio or 1:1 for better results.

Note: Plant small trees (that reach 30 feet tall or less) at least 10 feet from your home’s foundation and utility lines. Plant large trees (30 to 70 feet tall) at least 15 feet from foundations and lines; give 70-foot trees 20 feet of distance.

5. Water the planted seedling

Water the tree soon after planting and every day for several weeks afterward until the soil is averagely wet. Avoid over watering or under watering. By that point, the roots will have begun to grow out into the surrounding soil, and you can begin to gradually reduce the frequency of watering.

Fertilizer is of marginal benefit at planting time, and can even be harmful. Wait until the following year, then provide a moderate dose of fertilizer. A 3-inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree will keep weeds out and reduce water loss.

Note:  Newly planted trees should only be pruned to remove broken, dead, or diseased limbs. Otherwise, leave them be until after their first growing season.

PARTING SHOT:

Correct selection of a tree species, Properly planting a tree and Caring for it as it grows are the 3 main determinants of tree growing success.

SHARE AS WIDELY AS YOU CAN, IT WILL SAVE A TREE.