"pest control is the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest; such as any animal, plant or fungus that impacts adversely on human activities or environment."
The prevention and control of pests and diseases that can damage crops and reduce yields using various methods such as integrated pest management (IPM), biological control, and chemical pesticides.
Pesticides: Pesticides are chemicals used to control pests in agriculture. There are different types of pesticides, including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): IPM is an approach that combines various control methods to manage pests in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. It includes identifying the pest, monitoring its population, and using cultural, biological, and chemical control methods as needed.
Crop Diseases: Crop diseases are caused by pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. They can cause significant losses in yield and quality, and their control often involves the use of fungicides or other chemical control agents.
Crop Weeds: Crop weeds are plants that grow in or near crops and compete for resources such as nutrients, water, and light. Their control often involves the use of herbicides or other physical or cultural control methods.
Soil Conservation: Soil conservation is the management of soil to prevent erosion and maintain its fertility. It includes practices such as conservation tillage, cover cropping, and crop rotation.
Irrigation: Irrigation is the process of providing water to crops when rainfall is insufficient. It can involve various methods such as drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, or flood irrigation.
Plant Nutrition: Plant nutrition is the management of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil to optimize plant growth and yield. It involves practices such as fertilization and soil amendment.
Plant Genetics: Plant genetics is the study of inherited traits in plants and their interaction with the environment. It involves the selection and breeding of plants for desirable traits such as disease resistance, yield, and quality.
Agricultural Economics: Agricultural economics is the study of the economic principles and policies that govern agricultural production and marketing. It involves topics such as supply and demand, pricing, and trade.
Environmental Protection: Environmental protection is the management of natural resources to ensure their sustainability and conservation. It involves practices such as integrated pest management, crop rotation, and soil conservation.
Chemical Pesticides: Chemicals used to kill or control pests and diseases that can cause damage to crops.
Biological Control: The use of natural predators, parasites, or pathogens to control pests and diseases.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A holistic approach to pest control involving a combination of chemical, biological, and cultural practices.
Crop Rotation: The practice of changing the crops grown in a particular field each year to prevent pests and diseases from building up in the soil.
Soil Management: The practice of using techniques such as cover cropping, conservation tillage, and soil amendments to improve soil health and prevent soil-borne pests and diseases.
Seed Treatments: Chemical or biological treatments applied to seeds to protect against pests and diseases.
Plant Breeding: The process of developing crop varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases through traditional breeding techniques or biotechnology.
Agricultural Equipment: The use of equipment such as sprayers, cultivators, and planters to improve crop health and productivity.
Fungicides: Chemicals used specifically to control fungal diseases in crops.
Herbicides: Chemicals used specifically to control weeds in crops.
Insecticides: Chemicals used specifically to control insects in crops.
Nematicides: Chemicals used specifically to control nematodes, which are microscopic worms that can cause damage to crops.
Rodenticides: Chemicals used specifically to control rodents, which can cause damage to crops.
Traps and Baits: Devices used to attract and capture pests or rodents in order to control their populations.
Physical barriers: Physical measures such as fences, netting and covers used to protect crops from pests and animals.
Ultrasound: Non-lethal sound frequencies that are used as a repellent to deter insects and rodents from damaging crops.
Antibiotics: Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections that may affect crops.
Hormones: Plant hormones (Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, and Abscisic acid) are used to control plant growth and development.
Antagonists: Natural substances derived from plants that can stimulate plant’s natural immunity and protect them from various plant pathogens.
Biofumigation: A sustainable alternative to chemical fumigation that involves growing and incorporating specific Brassica crops in the soil, which release natural chemicals to control soil-borne pathogens.
Vaccines: Transgenic crops can be created with genes from pathogens to induce resistance when attacked by the same pathogen.
Irradiation: Radiation is used to kill harmful pathogens present in crops without altering the nutritional value and quality of food.
Encapsulation of active ingredients: To enhance the effectiveness of the pesticides, the active ingredients can be encapsulated in a polymer film.
Carbon dioxide: High concentrations of carbon dioxide are used to protect stored crops, making it uninhabitable for most pests.
Novel technology: Advancements in technology have generated various crop-protection gadgets like drones, sensors, and robotic sprayers that help farmers in effective crop protection.
"The human response depends on the importance of the damage done and will range from tolerance, through deterrence and management, to attempts to completely eradicate the pest."
"In agriculture, pests are kept at bay by mechanical, cultural, chemical, and biological means."
"Ploughing and cultivation of soil before sowing mitigate the pest burden."
"Crop rotation helps to reduce the build-up of a certain pest species."
"Concern about the environment means limiting the use of pesticides in favor of other methods."
"Monitoring the crop, only applying pesticides when necessary, and by growing varieties and crops which are resistant to pests."
"Where possible, biological means are used, encouraging the natural enemies of the pests and introducing suitable predators or parasites."
"The pests are the rodents, birds, insects, and other organisms that share the habitat with humans and that feed on and/or spoil possessions."
"Control of these pests is attempted through exclusion or quarantine, repulsion, physical removal, or chemical means."
"Alternatively, various methods of biological control can be used, including sterilization programs."
"Control of these pests is attempted through...physical removal."
"In agriculture, pests are kept at bay...by biological means."
"Encouraging the natural enemies of the pests and introducing suitable predators or parasites."
"Only applying pesticides when necessary and growing varieties and crops resistant to pests."
"Control of these pests is attempted through exclusion or quarantine, repulsion, physical removal, or chemical means."
"Pests are kept at bay...to reduce the build-up of a certain pest species."
"Any animal, plant, or fungus that impacts adversely on human activities or environment."
"This can be achieved by monitoring the crop, only applying pesticides when necessary."
"Pest control measures may be performed as part of an integrated pest management strategy."