Preserving bamboo with neem pesticide

[dsarfo]

l am working on preservation of bamboo and would love to avoid using CCA (http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca/) (Chromated Copper Arsenate). Is it possible to use Neem pesticides? Has anybody tried it yet? please share the results with me. Thank you!

[Mark Meckes]

An extensive search on the internet found little reference to specific applications for treating bamboo with neem, Azadirachta indica with the possible exception of treatment for warehouse storage of (bamboo) products.

Here's an interesting publication by the National Acadamies Press
Neem: A Tree for Solving Global Problems (http://www.nap.edu/openbook/0309046866/html/index.html)
From the site ...
Previous botanic names (for Azadirachta indica) were Melia indica and Melia azadirachta. The latter name (not to mention neem itself) has sometimes been confused with M. azedarach, a West Asian tree commonly known as Persian lilac, bakain, dharak, or chinaberry. The taxonomy of all these closely related species is so complex that some botanists have recognized as many as 15 species; others, as few as 2.

NEEM BASED PESTICIDE FORMULATION (http://www.nrdcindia.com/pages/neempest.htm) by the National Research Development Corporation ( A Government of India Enterprise )

Least toxic Pesticides Made with Essential Oils (http://www.beyondpesticides.org/infoservices/pesticidefactsheets/leasttoxic/essential.htm) - From an article at beyondpesticides.org
...." Its various active ingredients act as repellents, feeding inhibitors, egg-laying deterrents, growth retardants, sterilants and direct toxins. Neem has both contact and systemic action in plants. The active ingredients biodegrade rapidly in sunlight and within a few weeks in the soil. Neem oil has very low toxicity to mammals. In India, neem products have been used in toothpaste, pharmaceuticals, and as a grain protectant for centuries without apparent harm to humans...."
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So the question is, if it is affective for the treatment of bamboo, how long is it affective?
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Of historical importance...
The neem tree - a case history of biopiracy (http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/pir-ch.htm)
By Vandana Shiva

From the BBC World News - Wednesday, 9th March, 2005
India wins landmark patent battle (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4333627.stm)
India has won a 10-year-long battle at the European Patent Office (EPO) against a patent granted on an anti-fungal product, derived from neem.

[TBS90230]

You wrote about Neem below: "So the question is, if it is effective for the treatment of bamboo, how long is it effective?"

Have you further information? Has anyone tried this?

My initial treatment of my bamboo fence one year ago is not holding up. The mold is returning and the oil stain (recommended by the fence manufacturer) is "wearing off." I'm researching a better, permanent method, if that's possible at all.

Tracy

[CaroleMeckes]

Tracy,
Mold is prone to develop on bamboo that is harvested when it is too young (first year growth).
Carole

[TBS90230]

Thanks, Carole. Maybe someone else has experience with a better treatment of mold...maybe with neem, maybe something else.

My original treatment was soap and bleach, and then an oil stain that was recommended by the mfr.

[Bill Copenhaver]

Tracy if I understand you corretly, you have not tried neem, but rather in your experiment on your fence you applied a bleach and water solution followed by the oil stain. Anyway this is a topic I have been pursuing here on the forum lately as well. Anyone who has any knowledge of preserving bamboo that is exposed to daily weather please keep me in the loop and I will do likewise if I find any thing in my research.

Bill:

[TBS90230]

Hi Bill. I wrote to The Neem Team and received a response from Julie on 12/3/07. Her e-mail is julie@theneemteam.co.uk.
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Hello there,


I’m researching neem oil as a cure for mold on a bamboo fence.


I failed to stain the bamboo fence after purchasing it a couple of years ago. About one year later, the mold took over. The bamboo turned black. I scrubbed half of it with bleach and detergent, and on the other half, I used a power sprayer without bleach. After that, I had applied an oil-based stain that the manufacturer had recommended. Now, one year later, the mold has returned.

Neem oil may be the answer. Could you help me with these questions or refer me to another source?[Julie] - can't think of anyone off hand, except maybe www.theneemfoundation.org - but I have yet to receive a reply from them if I have ever emailed a query

1. Does the mold need to be removed before applying neem oil, or could neem oil be a part of the cleaning process?
[Julie] not necessarily, though a reduction in the amount of mould would undoubtedly improve efficacy - such as your pressure washer treatment

If neem oil must be applied after cleaning, should it be rubbed or painted onto the fence?
[Julie] it is best to get the oil runny by slightly warming it, and then paint it on is the easiest way - painting on is how neem oil is generally applied to wood.

, yearly) or would it be a permanent fix?
[Julie] I would doubt in our climate that anything will be a 'permanent' fix - due to the rain & cold etc keeping the timber damp for long periods - not sure how much fencing you have & how onorous the task would be, but personally I would do it, say Oct & Feb on a nice sunny breezy day - once the sun returns with more strength, the UV will help keep the mould at bay - although it sounds as though it is truly embedded in your fence now.


[Julie] The oil will act as a nice preservative for the fence - but as with all bacteria, fungi, viruses etc....there are many species, and we cannot guarantee a blanket result across the board.

Thank you in advance for your time.

Tracy
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I also called the fence manufacturer (Bamboo Fencer). He didn't have any experience with neem other than having read a few articles. Because neem is very expensive, based upon the few sources on the Internet, I've decided to experiment by treating only one panel with neem oil after I wash it with bleach and water. If, after a year, that panel fairs the best, then I'll treat the rest.

Let me know if you learn of anything else, Bill.

Thanks.

Tracy

P.S. I'm in Southern California. Our rainy season is not terrible, but I'm about 5 miles from the ocean, and there is lawn sprinkler water to contend with.

[Bill Copenhaver]

Tracy thanks for sharing info with me! I wish I had something helpful to share with you, but this just is not the case. Good luck with your experiment, and I look forward to hearing of your results. Will let you know if I learn anything new and plausible.

Bill

[Satish Kumar]

l am working on preservation of bamboo and would love to avoid using CCA (http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca/) (Chromated Copper Arsenate). Is it possible to use Neem pesticides? Has anybody tried it yet? please share the results with me. Thank you!

Different preseravative systems are avaialble for specific purpose. i.e for in door or out door; ground contact or out of ground contact, contact with food stuff. Unless the use is specified no body will be able to give you proper recommendation

Satish Kumar
Co-author of Bamboo Preservation Compendium