Alternative pest and diseases controls of organic crops from Alagoas state, Brazil

Abstract

Currently they have been sought sustainable alternatives to control pests species of different crops, especially vegetables, with active ingredients that do not degrade the environment, biodiversity and especially the health of the farmer and consumer. The objective of this study was to identify what typesof alternative control of pests and diseases are used by organic farmers from Alagoas State, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews and site visits and photographic record of the main types of alternative controlused were conducted with organic farmers of Cooperative Terragreste. The types of control were identified: milk and cow urine, the biological insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis, lime sulfur and bordeaux mixture, melted coconut soap and extracts of plants. The method of preparation of these products varies among organic farms and there wasn’t a measurement between the dosage and frequency of application of the active principle by pest and diseases.