When was the first pesticide invented

Ancient Sumerians used elemental sulfur to protect crops from insects, and medieval farmers and scientists experimented with chemicals like arsenic. Nineteenth-century research focused on compounds made from plants, including chrysanthemum. The first recorded use of insecticides is about years ago by Sumerians who used sulphur compounds to control insects and mites, whilst about years ago the Chinese were using mercury and arsenical compounds for controlling body lice 4.

The first known pesticide was elemental sulfur dusting used in ancient Sumer about 4, years ago in ancient Mesopotamia. The Rigveda, which is about 4, years old, mentions the use of poisonous plants for pest control. In , a chemist in Switzerland developed a new compound that would profoundly change the lives of farmers and ordinary folks around the globe. By , pesticide was found to increase farm yield far beyond pre-World War II levels. Farmers depend heavily on synthetic pesticides to control insects in their crops.

There are two categories of pesticides, first — generation pesticides and second — generation pesticide. In the 17th century, nicotine sulfate was extracted from tobacco leaves for use as an insecticide.

The 19th century saw the introduction of two more natural pesticides, pyrethrum, which is derived from chrysanthemums, and rotenone, which is derived from the roots of tropical vegetables. Until the s, arsenic-based pesticides were dominant. Organochlorines such as DDT were dominant, but they were replaced in the U. Since then, pyrethrin compounds have become the dominant insecticide.

The first legislation providing federal authority for regulating pesticides was enacted in ,however, decades later during the s manufacturers began to produce large amounts of synthetic pesticides and their use became widespread.

Some sources consider the s and s to have been the start of the ""pesticide era. Environmental Protection Agency was established in and amendments to the pesticide law in , pesticide use has increased fold since and 2. Seventy-five percent of all pesticides in the world are used in developed countries, but use in developing countries is increasing.

In the s, it was discovered that DDT was preventing many fish-eating birds from reproducing, which was a serious threat to biodiversity. Rachel Carson wrote the best-selling book Silent Spring about biological magnification. The agricultural use of DDT is now banned under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, but it is still used in some developing nations to prevent malaria and other tropical diseases by spraying on interior walls to kill or repel mosquitoes.

Click Here to Know about a Legend Dr. Abdul Kalam. Toggle navigation Menu. Social Discuss Sign Up Login. Pesticide Famous Inventors. Home inventions Pesticide. Invented Year. Invention Field. About Invention Since before BC, humans have utilized pesticides to protect their crops. Other inventions in Ancient World. Stone tools.. Controlled fire.. Built shelter..

Tally stick.. Because of this, development of new and useful biocontrols has continued to increase rapidly since the mid s. In fact, more than biocontrols active ingredients have been registered with the U.

EPA Biologicals division since Many of these have been introduced Biologicals division since Many of these have been introduced commercially in a variety of products. Many of the active ingredients currently approved for use in the U. Agrobacterium radiobacter Strain K84 Agrobacterium radiobacter Strain K84 is a naturally occurring bacterium found in many soils and in plant root zones.

This biocontrols is used in the greenhouse and nursery environment to control crown gall, an important plant disease. Bacillus spp. Bacillus licheniformis, B. Successes include uses as seed treatments or dressings, foliar application and soil-applied control of diseases in a variety of crops. Coniothyrium minitans Coniothyrium minitans is a naturally occurring fungus used commercially to control common Sclerotinia plant diseases through parasitism of the resting structures of the pathogen. Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and P.

Paecilomyces lilacinus is used to control nematodes that attack plant roots in field crops including many vegetables, fruit, turf, and ornamental crops. Trichoderma spp. Trichoderma is a genus of fungi that helps to control plant disease by stimulating plant host defenses and growth, and, under certain conditions, parasitizing harmful fungi within the plant root zone.

Azadirachtin Azadirachtin is an insect growth regulator derived from neem tree seeds. Known to affect some species of insects, azadirachtin disrupts insect feeding and inhibits its ability to molt as it changes from the pupa to adult stage. Beauveria bassiana Beauveria bassiana is a naturally occurring soil fungus that grows as white mold.