Crop Protection in Agriculture – Strategies & Their Implementation

Crop Protection in Agriculture – Strategies & Their Implementation

There are several strategies to protect crops from insects and pests. These include biological control, chemical control, fungicides and integrated crop protection. There are many ways that insects can harm crops, so it is important to use a combination of all three.

 

Chemical fungicides

Crop protection in agriculture is a crucial part of chemical fungicides. They have multiple purposes and can help improve the quality and storage life of harvested crops. After harvest, fungi can cause severe destruction to stored vegetables, fruits and seeds. Moreover, fungi can produce harmful mycotoxins, which can lead to severe illness in humans. Some crops, such as wheat, rice and corn, may produce less mycotoxins by using fungicides. Fungicides are formulated products composed of an active ingredient and inert ingredients that are applied to crops by spraying. Spraying equipment can range from hand-held sprayers to large spray units that are carried by tractors or aircraft. The resulting spray can be in the form fog, mist or smoke. Modern crop protection chemicals have been designed to be highly selective, and minimally affect nontarget organisms. This selectivity allows the chemical to control both weeds and fungi on crops without affecting the environment. Selectivity can also be achieved by enzyme specificity or selective metabolic of the chemical.

Biological Control

Biological control can be used to manage pests and diseases that may cause crop failure. It was discovered by trial and error, and has been used in agriculture for hundreds of years. Crop rotation is one of the most popular forms of biological control. This practice allows pest populations to decline below the economic threshold. Biological control can be beneficial for farmers, as it helps prevent the spread of pests. Plants have natural enemies such as microorganisms and fungi that can control diseases and pests. Plants can also be managed through genetics and culture to optimize their biochemical and physiological systems of self-defense. This approach can be used to prevent the growth of pests or to counter the effects of cultural and environmental stresses on plants. Another form of biological control involves the conservation of natural enemies. These predators are well-adapted to the pest and can be found in most production systems. This method is easy and inexpensive, and can be observed in the field without too much effort. Lady beetles and hoverflies are common aphid colonists.

Mechanical control

A mechanical control system for crop pests in agriculture is an effective method. Pests can be controlled by using traps placed in crops. This is an easy and effective way to stop them from invading your crop. Insecticides are also an effective way to kill pest insects. However, traps cannot guarantee that pests will not get past them. There are many uses for mechanical traps. They can help prevent damage to crops and also monitor insect populations in a garden. They snare pests and appeal to the insects’ need for food, shelter and reproduction. These methods may be insufficient in some cases, and the use of herbicides is a better option. Plant diseases and insects can affect the quality and yield of crops. Some of these can also be controlled through cultural practices, such as planting pest resistant varieties, quarantine, or pesticides. However, in extreme cases, crop disease can destroy crops completely. These epidemics may be prevented with mechanical control.

Integrated crop protection

Integrated crop protection strategies are essential components of a sustainable farming system. These strategies combine many traditional farming techniques with modern methods of protecting crops from pests or diseases. They aim to produce quality produce with a minimal environmental impact. Biologicals protect farmers’ crops by using active ingredients found in the soil and plants. They also leave little residue on the crop. The introduction of modern fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides helped farmers to fight plant diseases. New pesticides were developed through research into chemical weapons and organic compounds that have insecticidal properties. Crop protection techniques evolved further after the Second World War. Californian entomologists were the first to develop the concept of “supervised Control” of crop pests. This included both monitoring pest populations in the field and applying chemical protection methods. Integrated crop protection strategies and the implementation of them are a way to reduce pesticide use and increase crop yield. This protection method involves careful selection and use of pesticides to balance the risks to the environment as well as economic returns. Quantification of pesticide use can help identify which compounds are most harmful, and how much each compound contributes to the total emissions. Then, yearly solutions can then be developed. These could include changing the integrated crop protection strategy or preventing specific pesticides from being used.