Azadirachta indica
Family: Meliaceae
Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem, or Indian lilac, is a tree in family Meliaceae. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil .It is considered to be distributed widely in the Indian region.
Products made from neem trees have been used in the traditional medicine of India for centuries for treating skin troubles and rheumatism. In Southern India and the Middle-East, neem twigs are often used for teeth cleaning.
Neem is a key ingredient in non pesticidal management (NPM), providing a natural alternative to synthetic pesticides. Neem seeds are ground into powder that is soaked overnight in water and sprayed on the crop. To be effective, it must be applied repeatedly, at least every ten days. It acts as an anti-feedant, repellent, and egg-laying deterrent and thus protects the crop from damage. The insects starve and die within a few days. Margosa also suppresses the subsequent hatching of their eggs. Neem cake may be used as a fertilizer.Neem oil has been shown to avert termite attack as an ecofriendly and economical agent. Neem tree is of great importance for its anti desertification properties and possibly as a good carbon dioxide sink . It is also used for maintaining soil fertility.
