IIT-ISM Develops Innovative Approach to Minimize Pesticide Use for Sustainable Farming

Dhanbad: A new study at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-ISM) is working to reduce the amount of pesticides used in agriculture while making them more effective. The goal is to balance controlling pests and protecting the environment.

Pesticides are important for protecting crops from pests, but they can also harm human and animal health if they contaminate water or soil. This has raised concerns about their safety. To address these concerns, Prof. Deepak Kumar Mandal from IIT (ISM)’s Department of Mechanical Engineering is leading a study to find ways to minimize pesticide use.

The study, called “Impact of Pesticide Drops on a Leaf: Minimization of Pesticide Use through the Study of Spread,” started in 2022 and is funded by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) with a grant of Rs 33,94,640. The research looks at how pesticide droplets behave when they hit plant leaves and how to improve their spread.

The study found that pesticides are usually applied in liquid form, either as a solution or an emulsion. When larger drops hit a surface, they break into smaller droplets that spread more effectively. Prof. Mandal explained that the better the spread of the pesticide, the less is needed to control pests.

The research focuses on a few important factors. First, using a mesh with smaller openings can help break the pesticide drops into smaller droplets. Second, spraying the pesticide from a higher height improves how the droplets spread on the leaves. Lastly, the study also looks at how the pesticide evaporates and spreads after hitting the leaf.

The results of this research are expected to help farmers reduce their use of pesticides, leading to cost savings and better pest control. The environment will also benefit because there will be less pesticide contamination of water and soil.

This study at IIT (ISM) is an important step toward more sustainable farming. By improving how pesticides are applied, the research could change farming practices and help protect both human health and the environment.