Team Organic Mandya ·
Dashparni Ark: 10-Leaf Extract for Organic Pest Management
Dashparni Ark (literally “ten-leaf extract”) is a fermented botanical pesticide that combines the pest-repellent and insecticidal properties of 10 or more medicinal and aromatic plant species, fermented together with cow urine to create a broad-spectrum foliar spray used in ZBNF for controlling sucking pests, caterpillars, and fungal diseases. The logic of using multiple plant extracts together is powerful: each species targets different pest species or acts through a different mechanism, so the combined extract is broader in spectrum than any single botanical. Neem repels; chilli burns; ginger disrupts; tobacco paralyses. Together, they create a complex mix that few pest species can tolerate. Dashparni Ark takes 30–40 days to prepare but is used heavily diluted (200–500 ml per 10 litres water) and is extremely cost-effective.
30–40 days
Fermentation period for Dashparni Ark — patience is required; under-fermented extract is less effective
200–500 ml per 10L
Application dilution — 2–5% concentration; higher concentrations can cause leaf burning
10+ plant species
The more species used, the broader the spectrum of pest control — core 10 species are the minimum
Cow urine as carrier
Fresh cow urine activates and enhances the extraction of active compounds from plant material during fermentation
What Are the 10 Core Ingredients?
The following 10 plant species form the core of Dashparni Ark. Each brings specific pest-control properties:
| Plant | Quantity (for 10L base) | Active Property |
|---|---|---|
| Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves | 2 kg fresh leaves | Azadirachtin — anti-feedant; insect growth regulator |
| Chilli (Capsicum annuum) green | 500 grams fruits or leaves | Capsaicin — irritant; repels and deters most insect pests |
| Ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizome | 500 grams crushed | Gingerols and shogaols — repellent; antifungal |
| Garlic (Allium sativum) bulbs | 500 grams crushed | Allicin — broad insecticidal; antifungal |
| Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves | 500 grams dried leaves | Nicotine — neurotoxin to insects; powerful against sucking pests |
| Custard apple (Annona squamosa) leaves | 1 kg fresh leaves | Annonacin and acetogenins — insecticidal; effective against aphids and mites |
| Calotropis (Sodom apple) leaves | 1 kg fresh leaves | Calotropin and other alkaloids — insecticidal; toxic to many insect pests |
| Vitex (Nirgundi) leaves | 1 kg fresh leaves | Ecdysone antagonists — disrupts insect moulting |
| Papaya (Carica papaya) leaves | 1 kg fresh leaves | Papain and alkaloids — insecticidal; broad-spectrum pest deterrent |
| Drumstick (Moringa oleifera) leaves | 1 kg fresh leaves | Isothiocyanates — repellent; antimicrobial |
Additional ingredients: 5 litres fresh cow urine + 5 litres water; add any combination of additional aromatic/medicinal plants available on the farm (Lantana, Eucalyptus, Vitex, Datura) — more species improve the extract.
How Do You Prepare Dashparni Ark?
- Coarsely chop or crush all plant materials; add to a large container (30–50 litre drum or clay pot)
- Add 5 litres fresh cow urine
- Add 5 litres water
- Mix well; cover loosely with cloth
- Stir vigorously once daily for 30–40 days
- After 30 days: the liquid will be dark green-brown; a pungent, complex botanical smell
- Strain through a cloth; squeeze out all liquid from plant material
- Store in a sealed container in shade; use within 6 months
- This produces approximately 8–10 litres of concentrated Dashparni Ark
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Dilution: 200–500 ml of Dashparni Ark per 10 litres of water (2–5%)
- Start at 2% (200 ml per 10 L) for sensitive crops (seedlings, leafy greens)
- Use 3–5% for established crops and heavy infestations
Application timing:
- Always apply in the evening (after 5 PM) or early morning (before 8 AM)
- The high aromatic compound content makes plants temporarily unattractive to pests even during the day after evening application
- Do not spray when temperatures exceed 35°C — possible leaf burn
Frequency:
- Preventive: every 15 days during the crop season
- Curative (active pest infestation): every 5–7 days for 3 applications; then revert to 15-day preventive
Which Pests Does Dashparni Ark Control?
| Pest | Effectiveness | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Very good | Nicotine and garlic allicin work quickly; 2–3 applications control most aphid infestations |
| Thrips | Good | Calotropis and custard apple compounds effective; combine with neem oil for best results |
| Mites (red spider mite) | Good | Garlic and chilli compounds are miticide-active |
| Whiteflies | Moderate | Repellency but not high mortality; use in combination with yellow sticky traps |
| Caterpillars (young) | Moderate — repellency and feeding deterrence | Less effective on large caterpillars; combine with Agniastra for Lepidoptera |
| Mealy bugs | Moderate | Physical coating effect; garlic and chilli penetrate some waxy coating |
| Leaf miners | Poor | Leaf miners are protected inside the leaf; surface spray cannot reach them effectively |
| Powdery mildew | Good preventive | Garlic and ginger have antifungal properties; spray before disease appears |
Collect the 10 Leaves from Your Own Farm — Grow All Them as Useful Boundary Plants
The 10 species in Dashparni Ark are all practical farm plants with uses beyond pest control: Neem (timber, shade); Calotropis (boundary plant); Custard apple (fruit income); Drumstick (vegetable and leaf income); Papaya (fruit income); Vitex/Nirgundi (medicinal, animal fodder). Plant one or two specimens of each species along your farm boundary or in unused corners. After 2–3 years, you have a self-renewing Dashparni Ark ingredient source that also provides other income and farm ecosystem services. The ₹500–1,000 to establish these plants is the last seed purchase you ever make for your pest control system — after that, the farm makes its own.
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