Managing Crop Pests with Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices.

An IPM program combines current and comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment with available pest control methods. It is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment

You may take an IPM approach to both agricultural and non-agricultural settings, such as the home, garden, and workplace. IPM takes advantage of all appropriate pest management options including, but not limited to, the judicious use of pesticides. Organic food production, on the other hand, applies many of the same concepts as IPM but limits the use of pesticides to those that are produced from natural sources, as opposed to synthetic chemicals.

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The objectives of IPM

1. To minimize health and environmental risks of pest management activities
2. To minimize economic risk

How to implement IPM

IPM employs a series of decisions, controls and pest management evaluations. The practice of IPM considers four main steps.

• Set Action Threshold

In IPM, you first set an action threshold before taking any action to control the pest. The action threshold is a point at which pest populations or environmental conditions indicate that you must take pest control action. A single pest does not always require any control action. Rather, levels which pests will become an economic threat is critical pest control decisions.

• Monitor and Identify Pests

Some organisms are innocuous and some are also beneficial. So, not all insects, weeds, and other living organisms require control. In IPM, you must monitor for pests and accurately identify them so that you can make appropriate control decisions at the same time with action thresholds. The monitoring and identification eliminate unnecessary application of pesticides that are not really needed. Moreso, you may use the wrong pesticide.

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• Prevention

An IPM program manages the crops, lawns or indoor space to prevent pests from becoming a threat. In crops, cultural methods like crops rotation, selecting pest-resistant varieties and planting pest-free rootstock. These methods of control pose little to no risk to people and the environment. However, they are effective and cost-effective.

• Control

So, what next, after monitoring, identification and the action threshold indicate that you require pest control and that preventive measures are no longer effective or available?

An IPM program prescribes a proper control method, effective and less risky. You must choose effective and less risky pest control first. This should include chemicals targeted at the particular pest like pheromones to disrupt pest mating and multiplying or mechanical control such as trapping and weeding. Continue monitoring to see the effectiveness of control. If the less risky controls are not working as indicated by further monitoring, you may employ additional recommended pest control methods such as spraying of pesticides. Broadcast spraying of non-specific pesticide should be your last resort and done with precaution.

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Benefits of IPM

• Promotes the sustainable bio-based pest management alternatives.
• Reduces the environmental risk associated with pest management by encouraging the adoption of more ecologically benign control tactics.
• Reduces the potential for air and groundwater contamination.
• Protects the non-target species through the reduced impact of pest management activities.
• Reduces the need for pesticides by using several pest management methods.
• Reduces or eliminates issues related to pesticide residue.
• Alleviates public concern about pest & pesticide-related practices.
• Reduces or eliminates re-entry interval restrictions.
• Decreases worker, tenant and public exposure to pesticides.
• Maintains or increases the cost-effectiveness of pest management programs

References:

Benefits of IPM

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Principles

Integrated Pest Management: Principles & Practice - Dr Ana Legrand