Kakawate Leaf: An Effective Pesticide
Worms, bugs and other rice pests are an enigma to many farmers as these are threats to rice production.
To most farmers, commercial insecticides and pesticides are the most effective and readily available pest controls. What they don’t realize is that these cost them added expenses not to mention the bad effects of these chemicals to health and environment.
Dr. Alfredo R. Rabena, head of the Research and Development Office of the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City, Ilocos, has discovered a solution. He found that the leaves of kakawate tree or Mexican Lilac (Glinicidia sepium) contains coumarins, an effective botanopesticide.
To prepare the solution, chop the kakawate leaves and let these soak overnight to extract coumarins. Using a strainer, separate the leaves from the solution.
Spray the solution to the ricefields. The best time to apply it is from eight o’ clock to nine o’clock in the morning and from five o’clock to six o’clock in the afternoon as worms and pests are coming out from the leaves at these times. So the solution would be more effective to use. If applied early, it wouldn’t be that effective as pests are still hibernating. And if used when the sun’s heat is too hot, it wouldn’t be that effective also as pest would hide.
Since kakawate is a legume, says Rabena, its leaves are rich in nitrogen, an important soil nutrient. Hence, the discarded leaves can be applied to the field as an organic fertilizer. He also recommends fanners to put several leafy branches of kakawate tree in between rice plants two days after planting to prevent pests from attacking the crop.
To prove this research finding, Rabena and Flora Cely Rodilias did a demonstration in Naglaoa-an, Sto. Domingo, Ilocus Sur as well as in Vigan City and Lidlidda, Ilocus Sur where the kakawate leaves botanopesticide effectively eliminated rice weevils, rice bugs, and worms in ricefields.
To make the chopping of leaves easier, Rabena and Dr. Manuel Bajet Jr. designed a chopper. Called Dual Power Operated Foliage Chopper, the device can either be operated electrically or manually as it has a pedal. It costs P21,000 and there are units at the University.
OTHER USES OF KAKAWATE LEAVES
Coumarins in kakawate leaves are also effective termites and bed bugs neutralizer.
Rabena presented this finding through his paper “The Isolation, Characterization and Identification of Active Botano Chemicals of Kakawate Leaves Against Termites” that he presented during the 5th International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology in Singapore in 1997.
His study was also included in the book “The International Society for Plant Molecular Biology” published by the National University of Singapore and Institute of Molecular Agrobiology.
Kakawate leaves are also effective anti-fungus. It can cure Trichophyton Metagrophytes that causes skin diseases like eczema. Crumple several leaves and apply to affected area of the skin for a salicylic acid-like effect.
This year, Rabena and Dr. Nelia Aman, and Engr. Franklin Amistad have discovered that the ash of kakawate can be a good concrete mixture for ceramics. Its charcoal is a good moisture and odor absorbent, too.
Kakawate leaves can be used also to deworm pigs. Just have the swine eat ample leaves and the parasites wouldn’t live long.
If these uses are not enough, then remember that kakawate’s flowers can be made into salad or into dinengdeng, a delicious Ilokano veggie dish.
So farmers, why don’t you plant kakawate this rainy season? So that next year, you will have a good source of botanopesticide, termites and bed bugs neutralizer, and anti-fungus.
By Mancielito S. Tacadena http://www.agribusinessweek.com/kakawate-leaf-an-effective-pesticide/ Efficacy Test of Kakawate Leaf Extract Soap Against Mange in Dogs |

One of the most commonly observed problems of animals in rural and urban areas especially in developing countries including the Philippines is mange. Mange is a contagious skin disease caused by one of the several species of mites that may be transmitted when larvae, nymphs or fertilized females are transferred to a susceptible host directly by contact with diseased animals or indirectly by fomites or contaminated quarters. Once infection is established, pathogenic population can build up on an animal without further acquisition. Infected animals suffer by intense irritation and hypersensitivity which can lead to debilitation and possible death. One of the locally available herbal plants considered is the Gliricidia sepium commonly known as madre cacao or kakawate. It is a leguminous tree and belongs to family Fabaceae which originated in Central America is used in many tropical and subtropical countries as live fencing. In the Philippines, kakawate is washed and pounded to extract the juice from the leaves. It is the applied to the area affected by external parasites once or twice a day for one week. Findings also showed that is effective in treating mange infection in dogs and other animals. This project hoped to lessec and possibly stop the importation of veterinary drugs that causes the draining of dollar reserve. Based on the study conducted by DMMMSU, the following conclusions were derived: a) kakawate leaf extract soap could reduce the number of Sarcoptic and Demodectic mites; b) kakawate leaf extract soap at 20%, 15% and 10% concentrations were effective against mange mites in dogs; and twenty percent (20%) kakawate leaf extract soap reduced mites up to 98.00% which is highly effective and comparable to Amitraz. Hence, kakawate leaf extract soap is recommended for the treatment and control of Sarcoptic and Demodectic mange mites of dogs. Likewise, commercialization of kakawate leaf extract soap against mange in dogs can be initiated. | http://ilarrdec.mmsu.edu.ph/content/view/370/30/ Kakawate leaves as pesticide, bio-organic fertilizer
May 25, 2010 8:22 pm
By Danny O. Calleja
PILI, Camarines Sur, May 25 -– Other than as pig dewormer, termite and bed bug neutralizer, anti-fungus and bio-organic fertilizer among others, researchers have discovered leaves of Mexican Lilac (Glinicidia sepium) that is locally known as kakawate or madre de cacao an effective pesticide, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Marilyn Sta. Catalina, the regional executive director of the DA Regional Field Unit (RFU) for Bicol based here on Tuesday said the discovery was recently confirmed by Dr. Alfredo Rabena, head of the Research and Development Office of the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) who found out that kakawate leaves contain coumarins, an effective botanopesticide.
Field demonstrations conducted in several parts of the Ilocos region, Sta. Catalina said proved Rabena’s discovery that the kakawate leaves’ botanopesticide effectively eliminated rice weevils, rice bugs and worms in ricefields.
The botanopesticide solution is prepared by way of chopping the kakawate leaves and soaked in water overnight to extract coumarins and using a strainer, the leaves are separated from the solution.
The resulting solution is sprayed to the ricefield and the best time to do it is from eight o’clock to nine o’clock in the morning and from five o’clock to six o’clock in the afternoon. These times, worms and pests are coming out from the leaves making the solution more effective.
If applied earlier or later, its effectiveness would not be maximized as pests are still hibernating. Applying the solution under extreme sunlight will also reduce its effectiveness as the pests hide from the heat of the sun.
Since kakawate is a legume, Sta. Catalina quoted Rabena as saying, “its leaves are rich in nitrogen, an important soil nutrient. Hence, the discarded leaves can be applied to the field as an organic fertilizer.”
It is also recommended that farmers put several leafy branches of kakawate tree in between rice plants two days after planting to prevent pests from attacking the crop, she said.
Coumarins in kakawate leaves are also effective termites and bed bugs neutralizer and Rabena presented this finding through his paper “The Isolation, Characterization and Identification of Active Botano Chemicals of Kakawate Leaves Against Termites” that he presented during the 5th International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology in Singapore in 1997.
His study was also included in the book “The International Society for Plant Molecular Biology” published by the National University of Singapore and Institute of Molecular Agrobiology.
Kakawate leaves are also effective anti-fungus. It can cure Trichophyton Metagrophytes that causes skin diseases like eczema. Crumple several leaves and apply to affected area of the skin for a salicylic acid-like effect.
Rabena, along with Dr. Nelia Aman and Engr. Franklin Amistad also both of UNP, Sta. Catalina said have also discovered lately that the ash of kakawate can be a good concrete mixture for ceramics. Its charcoal is a good moisture and odor absorbent, too.
Kakawate leaves can be used also to deworm pigs. Just have the swine eat ample leaves and the parasites would not live long.
When these uses are not enough, the Bicol DA chief said it should be remembered that kakawate’s flowers can be made into salad or into dinengdeng, a delicious Ilokano veggie dish.
She encouraged farmers to plant more kakawate trees as its adaptability to any type of soil makes it an ideal tree for those who want to cultivate a plantation of it.
It’s perhaps one of the easiest growing plants one could find. It is a leguminous tropical tree that grows mostly in forests and could grow from five to 10 meters tall. Kakawate defoliates during dry season and flowers at the same time making it odd-looking but beautiful leafless trees with nothing but branches and flowers.
The flowers are pea-like with petals that are usually lavender, pink or white. It also bears fruits that look like a leathery pod and seeded.
Kakawate is very easy to propagate and inexpensive. The tree could re-sprout very quickly after pruning. Many farmers plant them mainly to shade other perennial crops like cacao, coffee and tea.
Aside from this, kakawate could provide a lot of uses to the farmers from its roots to its leaves. Its multipurpose use makes it a good plant crop in agroforestry.
Since kakawate is a legume, it is useful for fixing nitrogen in the soil, thus improving soil quality and increasing crop yields.
Kakawate has strong roots. It stabilizes sloping lands and reduces soil erosion. Its wood could be used as firewood, hedges, and fencing field. The leaves are rich in nitrogen and other nutrients suitable for green manure and fodder to farm animals.
This legume is also popular to the rural folks as a ripening agent for their harvested banana. Most farmers are not aware that this plant can be utilized as fertilizer to lessen their farm inputs.
Application of organic materials is a good agricultural practice to maintain soil nutrient level and ameliorate the properties of soil to sustain crop production. Many organic materials contain secondary nutrients and micronutrients in addition to organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Nonilon Badayos of the Department of Soil Science and Dr. Gina Pangga of Farming Systems and Soil Resources Institute, both of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños tested the potential of kakawate as bio-organic fertilizer in an earlier study for eggplant production in Laguna.
The experiment sought to evaluate the effect of kakawate on the growth performance and yield of eggplants and on the soils physical and chemical properties.
Observations revealed that the eggplants fertilized with 50 percent inorganic fertilizer plus 50 percent kakawate were the most vigorous – growth rate was faster and the fruits were heavier than the other treatments.
Sta. Catalina said more scientific results on kakawate’s effect on the crops performance and yield as well as its beneficial effect on the soil physical and chemical properties should be studied further.
Similarly, she added, the economic benefits of applying organic materials as soil amendment and its potential as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers should also be evaluated so that its benefits to the agriculture sector are emphasized. (PNA) LOR/LQ/DOC/mdr http://balita.ph/2010/05/25/kakawate-leaves-as-pesticide-bio-organic-fertilizer/ liricida sepium is locally known as kakawate. This legume is popular to the rural folks as a ripening agent for their harvested banana. Most farmers are not aware that this plant can be utilized as fertilizer to lessen their farm inputs.

Application of organic materials is a good agricultural practice to maintain soil nutrient level and ameliorate the properties of soil to sustain crop production. Many organic materials contain secondary nutrients and micronutrients in addition to organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
To test the potential of kakawate as bio-organic fertilizer, Nonilon G. Badayos of the Department of Soil Science and Dr. Gina V. Pangga of Farming Systems and Soil Resources Institute conducted a study entitled Integrated Nutrient Management for Eggplant Production in Sta. Maria, Laguna. The experiment sought to evaluate the effect of kakawate on the growth performance and yield of eggplants and on the soils physical and chemical properties.
Three treatments were followed in this study, namely: no fertilizer (control), 100% inorganic fertilizer, and 50% inorganic fertilizer + 50% Gliricidia sepium.
Observations revealed that the eggplants fertilized with 50% inorganic fertilizer + 50% Gliricidia sepium were the most vigorous – growth rate was faster and the fruits were heavier than the other treatments.
To get more scientific results on kakawates effect on the crops performance and yield as well as its beneficial effect on the soil physical and chemical properties, further study is strongly recommended. Similarly, the economic benefits of applying organic materials as soil amendment and its potential as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers should also be evaluated. (N.G. Badayos/G.V. Pangga)
Source: http://community.uplb.edu.ph
Kakawate and its many uses
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Posted by agri_center | Posted in Forestry, Research and Development/Product Development | Posted on 24-05-2008
Tags: Gliricidia sepium, Kakawate, Madre De Cacao
The adaptability of Gliricidia sepium to any type of soil makes it an ideal tree for any farmer who wants to cultivate a plantation of it. It’s perhaps one of the easiest growing plants one could find.
In Central America it’s called Madriado, Cacao de nance, Mata raton or Madre de cacao. Here in the Philippines, it’s locally known as Kakawate, a leguminous tropical tree that grows mostly in forests and could grow from five to ten meters tall. Although native of Central America, it has been naturalized everywhere because of its adaptability to any type of condition.
Kakawate defoliates during dry season and flowers at the same time. So you could just imagine how odd-looking but beautiful Kakawate is during the dry season-leafless tree with nothing but branches and flowers. The flowers are pea-like with petals that are usually lavender, pink or white. It also bears fruits that look like a leathery pod and seeded.
Kakawate is very easy to propagate and inexpensive. The tree could re-sprout very quickly after pruning. Many farmers plant them mainly to shade other perennial crops like cacao, coffee and tea. Aside from this, kakawate could provide a lot of uses to the farmers from its roots to its leaves. Its multipurpose use makes it a good plant crop in agroforestry.
Since kakawate is a legume, it is useful for fixing nitrogen in the soil, thus improving soil quality and increasing crop yields. Kakawate has strong roots. It stabilizes sloping lands and reduces soil erosion. Its wood could be used as firewood, hedges, and fencing field. The leaves are rich in nitrogen and other nutrients suitable for green manure and fodder to farm animals.

Kakawate used as live fence (Photo from http://www.css.cornell.edu)
But the innovative uses of Kakawate are not limited to fodder and firewood. Farmers have often overlooked the other important uses of Kakawate-as rodenticide and insecticide.
The bark of Kakawate is stripped and cooked with grains like corn or rice and used as poisonous bait for rodents. The advantage of Kakawate as bait is that the rats do not develop bait shyness that is common in using synthetic rodenticide. The Kakawate has distinctive aroma that could attract the rodents that eventually, with the right amount could terminate them.
The active substance in Kakawate is not a rapidly acting substance and needs repeated doses for it to be effective. But unlike commercially prepared rat killers, it is less lethal in case of accidents. Farmers who used Kakawate observed that when rats eat it, their hands stiffen and they get bloated and die of hemorrhagic poison. After the bait was consumed it would take one to two days before the farmers could find them dead on the fields.
Aside from its ability to kill rats, Kakawate is also a good insect repellant. It has same active substance that could wipe out the insects alighting on farm animals. To do this, farmers would collect the silky, young leaves of Kakawate, ground them and mixed them with water. The farm animal is then applied with the resulting pasty cream.
Although kakawate proved to be an effective insect repellant and rat killer as many farmers proved it, further research has not ensued to develop it. One huge reason is the immediate availability of commercially manufactured insecticide and rodenticide in the market which would be likely more preferred particularly in first world countries. But in third world country like the Philippines, such knowledge is important and valuable. Imagine, farmers could now obtain rat poison and insect repellant at no cost.
Written by Rita T. dela Cruz
Reference: www.bar.gov.ph
Sources:
1. “The multipurpose mouse killer”
2. “Uses and efficacy of Gliricidia sepium” http://blog.agriculture.ph/tag/kakawate Medicine: Crude extracts have been shown to have antifungal activity. Reported to be expectorant, sedative and suppurative. Madre de cacao is a folk remedy for alopecia, boils, bruises, burns, colds, cough, debility, eruptions, erysipelas, fever, fractures, gangrene, headache, itch, prickly heat, rheumatism, skin tumours, ulcers, urticaria and wounds.
Food: Flowers can be fried and eaten.
Fodder: G. sepium leaves are rich in protein and highly digestible, and low in fibre and tannin. There is evidence of improved animal production (both milk and meat) in large and small ruminants when G. sepium is used as a supplement. Goats on G. sepium gained weight and maintained a positive N balance. However, non-ruminants fed on G. sepium have shown clear signs of poisoning. Perceptions of palatability vary greatly around the world. There are reports from India and Indonesia of limitations to its use because animals will not eat it. In some areas, such as Colombia and Sri Lanka, there is no palatability constraint and it is an important dry-season feed.
Apiculture: The flowers attract honeybees (Apis spp.), hence it is an important species for honey production.
Poison: The leaves, seeds or powdered bark are toxic to humans when mixed with cooked rice or maize and fermented. The mechanism of toxicity is not understood. G. sepium has found application as a rodenticide and general pesticide. http://www.filipinoherbshealingwonders.filipinovegetarianrecipe.com/kakawate.htm Dog Mange occurs when a dog's immune system is not able to guard against the infestation of mites and scabies. The weakened immune system also results in the mites laying eggs and burrowing themselves deep into the skin. The reason most mange treatment products are ineffective is because they simply target the symptoms on the skin, but fail to address the damaged immune system, which is the most important consideration when dealing with mange and scabies. If the immune system stays weak, the mange will continue to appear. As a result most mange shampoos provide limited temporary relief and are unable to keep the mites and mange from re-forming. Our Mange Healing Kit addresses works completely to clear the mange and keep it from returning. The Dog Mange Complete Healing Kit consists of an All Natural Mange Shampoo (safe and does not contain Anise oil), Medicated Spray to use in between baths and around the house, and SkinPlex Digestive Enzyme which play a vital role in repairing and strengthening a dog's damaged skin immune system. which needs to be healed to prevent the mange from returning.

Mange in dogs is a serious and painful condition and in most cases shampoos alone are not enough to completely eradicate the mites and mange. The reason our kit has been so successful for so many pet owners is because it not only washes away the mange with the medicated shampoo and spray, it also (and perhaps most importantly) helps to repair the outer skin membrane responsible for protecting against further mange infestations.
Poultry raisers both producers of eggs and meat, can cut costs by using powdered kakawate (madre cacao) leaves as ingredient in their feeds.
A study conducted by Judito Latap of the Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry showed that kakawate leaf meal is indeed a good poultry feed ingredient. It could take the place of ipil-ipil leaf meal that is often used by feed millers.
In his study, Latap prepared six different rations. One ration which did not have any kakawate served as the control of reference. The remaining five rations contained kakawate leaf meal in varying amounts as low as 2 percent and as high as 10 percent of the ration.
The other ingredients included ground white corn, soybean oil meal, rice bran, fish meal, copra meal, meat and bone meal, limestone, salt and vitamin-mineral premix. http://affleap.com/kakawate-makes-a-good-poultry-feed-ingredient/ The golden apple snail is considered one of the leading rice crop pests in the Philippines. The kakawate is a common tree in the countryside and some of the natives in Mindoro have already used it for protection of their crops from certain pests. This study focused on the effectiveness of the different methods of applying the kakawate to reduce the golden apple snail population. The experiment consisted of four groups from A-E with each having 10 replicates of snails wherein each container will go different methods of applying the kakawate. Group A was treated with the extracted form or the diluted form of the extract. Group B was treated with the powdered form of the kakawate leaves. Group C was the tried method of putting the two forms together. Group D was treated with a common inorganic pesticide used to kill this kind of pest while the last group, Group E was the control group. Preliminary results showed that the kakawate extracts were effective in killing the golden apple snails that were cut in an aquarium where the control and experimental snails were given equal amounts of food, the same level of water, and other factors like the lighting and air.
http://scinet.dost.gov.ph/union/ShowSearchResult.php?s=2&f=&p=&x=&page=&sid=1&id=The+effectivity+of+kakawate+leaf+extracts+in+decreasing+the+golden+apple+snail+population&Mtype=PROJECTS