The advent of the “Green Revolution” was a great success in significantly increasing crop productivity. However, it involved high ecological costs in terms of excessive use of synthetic agrochemicals, raising concerns about agricultural sustainability. Indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides resulted in environmental degradation, the development of pest resistance, and possible dangers to a variety of nontarget species (including plants, animals, and humans). Thus, a sustainable approach necessitates the exploration of viable ecofriendly alternatives. Plant-based biopesticides are attracting considerable attention in this context due to their target specificity, ecofriendliness, biodegradability, and safety for humans and other life forms. Among all the relevant biopesticides, plant essential oils (PEOs) or their active components are being widely explored against weeds, pests, and microorganisms. This review aims to collate the information related to the expansion and advancement in research and technology on the applications of PEOs as biopesticides. An insight into the mechanism of action of PEO-based bioherbicides, bioinsecticides, and biofungicides is also provided. With the aid of bibliometric analysis, it was found that ~75% of the documents on PEOs having biopesticidal potential were published in the last five years, with an annual growth rate of 20.51% and a citation per document of 20.91. Research on the biopesticidal properties of PEOs is receiving adequate attention from European (Italy and Spain), Asian (China, India, Iran, and Saudi Arabia), and American (Argentina, Brazil, and the United States of America) nations. Despite the increasing biopesticidal applications of PEOs and their widespread acceptance by governments, they face many challenges due to their inherent nature (lipophilicity and high volatility), production costs, and manufacturing constraints. To overcome these limitations, the incorporation of emerging innovations like the nanoencapsulation of PEOs, bioinformatics, and RNA-Seq in biopesticide development has been proposed. With these novel technological interventions, PEO-based biopesticides have the potential to be used for sustainable pest management in the future.

In this study, we assessed the effects of biochar prepared from an invasive tree, Broussonetia papyrifera on the growth of selected pulse (Cajanus cajan and Vigna radiata) and cereal (Oryza sativa and Zea mays) crops under laboratory conditions. Two experiments were designed, one with biochar powder and another with biochar water extract to mimic the environmental conditions of the growing season of the crops. The findings of the study revealed that the seeds of pulse crops responded slower during the initial days (3 to 7 days) of exposure to the biochar powder whereas a marked increase in root and shoot growth parameters was observed with increasing doses of biochar at 15th day, compared with the control. With an initial increase in growth behaviour of pulses (at 3rd day), a stable growth response was observed at 7th and 15th days under control treatments. Both cereal and pulse crops showed better growth responses with increasing dose of biochar, and maximum growth was observed at 1-2% (for powder) and 2-4% (for extract) biochar doses. Application of powdered biochar showed better growth responses than the extract, as it facilitated gradual-release of nutrients, thus allowed the plants to stay healthy for a longer period of time. The results underscore the importance of using biochar based on the specific crop types, seed sizes, and growth stages to fully utilize its potential in sustainable agriculture. Harnessing the beneficial attributes of biochar not only enhances soil quality and crop yields but also presents a promising avenue for environmentally friendly weed control and resource utilization, aligning with broader objectives of agricultural sustainability and food security. Further investigations focused on optimizing biochar formulations and conducting field-scale trials will be essential in realizing its transformative impact on global agricultural practices.Top of Form