Abstract

Very few pesticides are being used in Kerala Forests currently. About 86 per cent of the 9, 400 sq. km of forests in the State consist of natural forests where no pesticides are used because there are no pest problems. Even in man-made forests (forest plantations) use of pesticides is an exception rather than rule. In Eucalyptus plantations, aldrin or a similar insecticide is used against termites. As per the method of application standardized by the Kerala Forest Researche Institute, only 300 g a.i. of the insecticide need be used per hectare of plantation. Since application of insecticide is necessary only at the time of initial planting(once in 30 years), the rate of use works out to 10 g a.i. /ha/year. Teak, an important forest crop in Kerala which occupies over 66, 500 ha, is usually subject to annual defoliation by insects, but there is no justification for resorting to large-scale insecticidal control. With more intensive utilization of forests, particularly with the