What is pest control in agriculture

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U.S. farmers employ a range of pest management strategies to control weeds, insects, fungi, viruses, and bacteria. They till their soils, rotate their crops, scout their fields, and carefully consider factors such as plant density and planting dates. They also apply organic and synthetic pesticides.Apr 28, 2020

Can radiation be used to control pests in agriculture?

Yes,Radiation can Control Pests. The use of Radiation for Control of Pest falls under the Category of Biological Control of Pests.

Does pest control actually work?

Pest control does work. The continued presence of pests in your home after treatment may be because you aren’t doing it right. You may be rolling your eyes due to how our response sounds ridiculous. However, the truth is, you may have avoided or are ignorant of certain basic actions necessary for success.

What are the types of pest control methods?

  • Get your chemical pesticides in the form of Granules and Pellets. …
  • Emulsifiable concentrate; these chemical pesticides do not take effect on fruits and vegetables.
  • Dust and Chemical Pesticides; Stable particles such as roach chalk, ash can be used in making pesticides in dust form.
  • Lastly, Soluble or wet powder

How does pest and disease affect agriculture?

The Impact of Pests on the Agriculture Industry

  • Crop Damage. Insects are a big threat. …
  • Damage to Finished Products. Pest species can also cause much harm to finished products that are getting ready for sale. …
  • Equipment and Machinery Damage. Rodents are the biggest problem. …
  • Safeguard Pest Control. …
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What is a pest control?

Pest control is the process of controlling, managing, minimizing or removing undesirable insects and other pests, from spaces occupied by people. It should: Be handled by a licensed pest professional, who is a true expert on the pests they treat.


What is an example of pest control?

For example, insecticides are used to control insects; herbicides to control plants; fungicides, fungi; rodenticides, rodents; avicides, birds; and bactericides to control bacteria.


What is the use of pest control?

Pesticides are used to control various pests and disease carriers, such as mosquitoes, ticks, rats and mice. Pesticides are used in agriculture to control weeds, insect infestation and diseases. There are many different types of pesticides; each is meant to be effective against specific pests.


What are the three pest control methods?

4 Common Types of Pest Control MethodsRegistered Pesticide. A registered pesticide is a term for a pesticide that can legally be used in the United States. … Insect Growth Regulators. Insects go through different stages as they grow into adults. … Repellents. … Pheromones.


How do you control pests in crops?

Pest control in agricultural crops is generally achieved by chemical pesticides which are effective and have a ‘knock-down’ effect on life stages of insects and mites. Recently, plant products have been experimented on in indoor cultivation and in fields.


What are types of pest control?

4 Types of Pest ControlChemical Pest Control. The chemical method involves uses chemical treatments to deter any kind of pest. … Biological Pest Control. Biological control involves the use of living organisms to control a pest population. … Electronic Pest Control. … Physical Pest Control.


What are the 4 types of pests?

There are four different types of pests – rodents, insects, birds and wildlife. Below we discuss a little more about each, what the signs of infestation are and how you can prevent them. Rats and mice are one of the more unpleasant infestations.


What is the technique of pest control called?

Mechanical pest control is the management and control of pests using physical means such as fences, barriers or electronic wires. It includes also weeding and change of temperature to control pests. Many farmers at the moment are trying to find sustainable ways to remove pests without harming the ecosystem.


How to control pests in your home?

To control pests both in our homes and on crops, integrated pest management is a strategy that we can use. Integrated pest management is a process that uses different ways to control pests. The steps include 1) Identify the Pest, 2) Monitor Pest Activity, 3) Choose Control Methods, and 4) Evaluate Results.


What is the learning objective of pests?

A pest is an organism living and growing where they are not wanted and can cause damage to plants, humans, structures, and other creatures, including crops that are grown for food. Students will learn about different types of pests and the damage they cause, including an example of pests on corn.


What are some examples of insects that eat corn?

Examples. Vertebrate Pests. Deer, raccoons, rabbits, birds, and other creatures can eat the corn crop at various stages of the growth of the corn. Invertebrate Pests. Cutworms are the larvae of what will eventually become a moth. In the larvae stage, the cutworms live near or below the soil surface.


What do cutworms eat?

In the larvae stage, the cutworms live near or below the soil surface. The cutworms feed on corn that has recently emerged from the ground, chewing off the small corn sprouts causing damage that often appears as if the corn has been “cut.”. Other invertebrate pests can attack corn at various stages of growth. Weeds.


What are the different types of pests?

Pests can be broken into four main categories 1 Vertebrate Pests#N#Have a backbone. Examples: Rodents, birds, reptiles, and other mammals 2 Invertebrate Pests#N#No backbone. Examples: Insets, spiders, ticks, slugs 3 Weeds#N#Any plant growing out of place. 4 Diseases#N#Fungi, bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.


What are the pests that attack corn?

Other invertebrate pests can attack corn at various stages of growth. Weeds. Besides the corn plants, any other plant in the corn field could be considered weeds, as these other plants are competing for water, sunlight, and nutrients with the corn. Diseases.


What are the threats to food supply?

Pests can pose a serious threat to a food supply. A major food crop is corn, which supplies humans with food that we eat, food for animals, and corn ethanol used for fuel. There are many pests to corn, including vertebrates, invertebrates, weeds, and diseases.


What is pest control in agriculture?

Pest control in intensive agriculture involves pre- and postharvest treatment of crops with a variety of synthetic chemicals generically known as pesticides . Pesticides include herbicides and insecticides, which are mainly used in the preharvest stages; rodenticides, which are employed while storage of the crops; and fungicides, which can be applied at any stage of the process. Livestock can be contaminated through the consumption of contaminated feed and water, from pesticide application in animal production areas or from treatment of the animals themselves to prevent pest infestations. This can result in the presence of pesticide residues in animal-derived food products, and therefore, humans are mainly exposed to these chemicals through ingestion. The chronic effects of human exposure to pesticides from food intake are not completely defined, but there has been increasing evidence of carcinogenicity and genotoxicity, as well as endocrine disruption capacity (LeDoux, 2011 ).


How do pesticides work in agriculture?

Pest control in agricultural crops is generally achieved by chemical pesticid es which are effective and have a ‘knock-down’ effect on life stages of insects and mites. Recently, plant products have been experimented on in indoor cultivation and in fields.


What are the pests that live in the upper leaf canopy of turfgrass?

Common turfgrass pests that live and feed in this area include the caterpillar stages of cutworms, armyworms and sod webworms that have chewing mouthparts, as well as all stages of greenbugs (aphids) that feed with sucking mouthparts.


What are two pest management strategies that rely on the effects of competition?

Two pest management strategies that rely on the effects of competition are trap cropping and push-pull. Trap crops are a well-known means of inhibiting infestations by pests. The trap crop may be the same species as the crop, or a different species, and deployed around fields or within the crop.


What is a pest control log?

A relatively standard part of pest control programs is the log containing all the relevant information about the program. Some information in the log is legally required, whilst other information is needed or required for the company’s own purposes and to satisfy external quality assurance programs.


Why do you need to treat perimeter trap plants?

The perimeter trap plants can then be treated to reduce the pest population there. Trap plants may be planted within a crop to be protected and act so as to lure the pest from the crop. The individual or patches of trap plants can be treated so as to destroy the pest species.


What is the purpose of using clean plant material?

Use of clean (disease and pest free) planting material (true seeds, seed tubers, and cuttings) is a prerequisite to control disease in the field and postharvest. For example, onion seeds are very often infected with molds (Snowdon, 2010 ), requiring a preplanting fungicide treatment.


Why is natural pest control important?

This focus is because promoting natural pest control could yield several important benefits, i.e., a reduced reliance on pesticide use, but also greater crop yields and increased biodiversity in agricultural landscapes ( Gagic et al., 2017 ).


What are the pests that humans have been able to control?

Humans have been managing agricultural pests for thousands of years. Pests can include weeds, plant pathogens (certain fungi, bacteria, and viruses), rod ents, and nematodes in addition to the plant-feeding insects and mites described in the preceding text, and are estimated to destroy as much as one-third of all agricultural yield. A wide array of pest control tools exist including cultural practices such as weeding, pesticide applications, and selective plant breeding for pest resistance.


Why are moths considered crop pests?

As noted earlier, many are migrants, preadapted to be crop pests (because they are highly dispersive insects that locate resources quickly and thrive in early successional habitats).


What is the name of the pest that attacks dog food?

A species, such as the Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella) (Pyralidae), are important stored product pests that attack grains, cereals, bird seed, dry dog food, and even candy that has sat too long. Clothes moths ( Tinea and Tineola species) (Tineidae) are well known for their ability to damage woolens.


How do abiotic factors affect insect pests?

Environmental favorability is influenced by abiotic factors that can affect a potential insect pest either directly via tolerance of physical, chemical, or climatic conditions, or indirectly through their influence on the nutritional quality of cultivated plants. For example, heavy rains not only lead to direct mortality of plant-feeding insects, but can also lead to improved host plant quality through the stimulation of plant growth. Similarly, environmental favorability is influenced by biotic factors that, in addition to host plant quality, include host plant abundance, activity of competitors and natural enemies, and disturbance from human intervention. Given the broad range of factors that contribute to environmental favorability, what evidence do we have that natural biological control ever plays a pivotal role in the suppression of potential agricultural pests?


What is an agroecosystem?

Agroecosystem. An ecosystem under agricultural management practices. Biocontrol. Control of agricultural pests by the use of predators and other beneficial organisms (e.g., control of turf grass crickets by parasitic nematodes).


Why are lepidoptera important?

Importance. Lepidoptera, in particular moths, are among the most important forest and agricultural pests. There is almost no plant tissue that is not eaten by one or more species of moths. Most of the forest pests are of cyclical occurrence with natural enemies eventually controlling population numbers.


How do farmers control pests?

One common alternative method used for controlling pests is biological control, which is when natural predators of the pest are introduced to prey on or parasitize the pest. When using this method, farmers get natural predators of the pest and release them into their fields so that the predators can manage the pest population.


What is the method of pest management where crops are genetically altered?

As agricultural technology has advanced, scientists have developed alternative methods of pest management that focus on the genetics of the organism. Genetic control is the method of pest management where the crops are genetically altered so that they are resistant to pests and diseases caused by pests. Crops can be genetically altered in ways that produce chemical or physical barriers to prevent harm from pests.


What is the alternative method of pest control?

This alternative method most commonly includes the use of pheromones or hormones to either attract and trap the pest or alter the functioning of the pest’s body. The last type of alternative pest control method is genetic control. Genetic control is the method of pest management where crops are genetically altered so that they are resistant …


Why were wasps introduced to the hornworm population?

The hornworm caterpillars were consuming the leaves of many crops, and the wasps were introduced to control the hornworm population. The wasps are parasites of the caterpillars. They lay their eggs in the caterpillar’s body. The wasp larvae hatch and use the caterpillar for nutrients and eventually cause the death of the caterpillar.


What are the chemicals used to control pests?

The other most common natural chemical control used is hormones .


Why is genetic control important?

Although genetic control has made it possible to reduce the damage done by pests , there are some concerns over changing the genetics of organisms.


What are the chemicals that control the growth and functioning of an organism?

The other most common natural chemical control used is hormones . Hormones are chemicals produced by an organism that control the growth and functioning of the organism. Hormones of pests have been extracted and synthesized and can be released into the environment.


How to control pests in agriculture?

Natural Pest Control Methods in Agriculture. There are several methods to control the pests naturally by using cultural and mechanical methods. Also, natural pesticides can aid in the control of these pests. The pesticides which are derived solely from natural products without using chemicals are called natural pesticides.


How to eliminate pests in the field?

Water is the greatest source to eliminate pests. Flooding water in the fields submerges the pests inhabiting the soil, and they flow away with water. Ex- Soil inhabiting pests like white grubs and cutworms can be eliminated through flooding.


How does temperature affect the activity of pests?

Temperature inhibits the activity of pests by making them inactive. The high temperature through steam sterilization of greenhouse, hot water treatment of bulbs, hot air treatment of godowns can be used to eradicate the pests.


What is the purpose of pesticides?

Pesticides are the substances sprayed on plants to kill pests. Pesticides are both chemical and natural. Chemical pesticides compose of chemicals, and they are harmful in numerous ways. They affect beneficial insects and kill natural predators like honey bees.


Why are farmers using pesticides?

These pesticides are disturbing the ecosystem and are carcinogenic. To stay away from the effects of chemicals on human health, everyone prefers organic food, which is grown naturally without any chemicals.


What are the effects of pollen on humans?

They cause pollution, make the pollen sterile and show residual effect. These chemical residues enter the food chain and cause several disorders to humans like cancer, neurological disorders, Parkinson’s disease, asthma, headaches, vomitings, depression, and it may suppress the immune system.


Is there a single method of pest control that has ever been proven successful?

No single method of pest control has ever been proven successful to eradicate the pests. Using chemicals has shown adverse effects on humans and the environment. So natural methods must be adopted to eradicate the pests. These are ideal methods of controlling pests and are safe and less damaging.


What are some insects that control weeds?

Insects control weeds by feeding on plants or by transmitting disease organisms that injure plants. Moths, thrips, mealybugs, scale insects, wasps, certain beetles, leafminers, gall midges, and other insects have been moderately successful in biological control programs for weeds. Pathogens.


What is the use of microorganisms for the management of insects and mites?

The use of microorganisms for the management of insects and mites is a special category of augmentation. There are several microbial pesticides, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, currently registered for the management of insects and mites. For more on microbial pesticides, see p 87 in Chapter 3 of .


What happens when you mix pesticides in water?

If water used for mixing pesticides contains soil particles or other impurities, the effectiveness of the pesticide may be reduced. Chemicals in the water can alter the active ingredient of a pesticide, changing its toxicity or making it ineffective against the target pest.


Why is it so hard to apply pesticides?

The result of uneven distribution in clumpy soil is that pesticide will not reach the target organism and control will be reduced.


What is the difference between selective and nonselective herbicides?

Herbicides are organized in several ways, generally relating to how they affect plants or which types of plants they affect. Selective herbicides only kill certain types of plants (such as broadleaf or grass weeds); nonselective (broad- spectrum) herbicides kill all types of vegetation.


What crops can be rotated to reduce nematodes?

Rotating to a flooded crop, like rice , or a highly competitive crop, like alfalfa, can also help reduce a variety of troublesome pest species. Various crops can be used as part of a rotation sequence to reduce nematode and soil pathogens as well as provide additional benefits in broadleaf crops (Table 1-4).


What animals can be used to control weeds?

Among vertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals have the greatest potential for biological weed control. For instance, sterile grass carp can be used in certain well- contained water bodies to manage aquatic weeds. Geese have been used as selective grazers to control weedy grasses in cotton, orchards, and vineyards.

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Overview


In agriculture, horticulture, and forestry

Biological pest control is a method of controlling pests such as insects and mites by using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, parasitody or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. Classical biological control involves the introduction of natural enemies of the pest that are bred in the laboratory and released into th…


History

Pest control is at least as old as agriculture, as there has always been a need to keep crops free from pests. As long ago as 3000 BC in Egypt, cats were used to control pests of grain stores such as rodents. Ferrets were domesticated by 500 AD in Europe for use as mousers. Mongooses were introduced into homes to control rodents and snakes, probably by the ancient Egyptians.


In homes and cities

Many unwelcome animals visit or make their home in residential buildings, industrial sites and urban areas. Some contaminate foodstuffs, damage structural timbers, chew through fabrics or infest stored dry goods. Some inflict great economic loss, others carry diseases or cause fire hazards, and some are just a nuisance. Control of these pests has been attempted by improving sanit…


On airfields

Birds are a significant hazard to aircraft, but it is difficult to keep them away from airfields. Several methods have been explored. Stunning birds by feeding them a bait containing stupefying substances has been tried, and it may be possible to reduce their numbers on airfields by reducing the number of earthworms and other invertebrates by soil treatment. Leaving the grass long …


Guidelines and legislation

Guidelines and legislation regarding the usage permitted methods of application and the storage conditions of pesticides and chemicals vary from country to country, often being legislated by each state of territory.
Environment Protection Act 1997 ACT
Pesticides Regulations 2003 SA Pursuant to Controlled Substances Act 1984 SA


See also

• Bee removal
• Electronic pest control
• Garden guns
• IPM CRSP
• Nuisance wildlife management


External links

• Pest Control and Pesticide Safety for Consumers

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