Exploring potassium soap as an eco-friendly alternative for insect pest control

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of four types of potassium soap (vegetable oil-based, olive oil-based, neutral pH, and low pH) against the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover under laboratory conditions, as well as to investigate the level of awareness and commercialization of this product in the El Oued region through a field survey. Laboratory experiments were carried out using four concentrations (0.00%, 0.5%, 1%, and 5%) with three replicates for each concentration (10 aphids per replicate), and mortality rates were recorded after 48 hours. The lethal concentrations LC50 and LC90 were calculated using probit analysis. A survey was distributed to 37 participants representing agricultural pesticide shops and import companies in El Oued. The laboratory results showed that potassium soap formulated with vegetable oils (SVO and SOO) exhibited high effectiveness against aphids, with LC50 values of 0.409% and 0.431%, respectively. The third type (neutral pH) was practically ineffective (LC50 = 106.267%), while the fourth type (low pH) showed moderate effectiveness (LC50 = 2.067%). Phytotoxic effects (leaf burns) were observed at the 5% concentration across all soap types The survey results revealed that 64.9% of participants had never heard of potassium soap, and 78.4% considered lack of knowledge and awareness as the main obstacle to its use. This study confirms that potassium soap, especially when produced from vegetable oils and characterized by an alkaline pH,

can be an effective and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. However, its adoption remains low due to the lack of awareness and technical knowledge.