The use of Neem Oil for pest control in citrus in the central region of Rondônia

Abstract

The study investigates the use of Neem oil as an organic alternative to control sooty mold in citrus plants in the central region of Rondônia, driven by the disease’s negative impact on productivity and by the growing demand for sustainable solutions that avoid the harmful effects of chemical pesticides. Conducted between July and November 2024 in five farms in municipalities such as Mirante da Serra, Jaru, and Ji‑Paraná, the work included applications of Neem oil (5 mL/L) to different types of plants—lemon trees, orange trees, pokan trees, and lime trees—with visual monitoring, interviews with farmers, leaf sample collection, and observation of the plants’ responses to the treatment. The results indicate that there was a noticeable improvement in plant vigor and a reduction in sooty mold, as well as positive acceptance of the method by the farmers; although at this moment there are no rigorous statistical analyses, the feedback is promising. The conclusion is that Neem oil can represent an efficient alternative to chemical control, especially for small and medium producers, although future studies with larger sample sizes, quantitative methodology, and broader geographic scope are recommended to solidify the findings.