5.14 - Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Question 1

IPM Basics

Answer 1

• Using a variety of pest control methods that minimize env. disruption and pesticide use
  - Researching & monitoring pests and targeting methods to specific pest life cycles
• Biocontrol (Bringing in a natural predator or parasite to control the pest)
• Crop rotation
• Intercropping

Question 2

Biocontrol

Answer 2

• Introducing a natural predator, parasite, or competitor to control the pest population
• Can include actually purchasing & spreading the control organisms in fields, or building homes for them/planting habitat they need to attract them naturally

Question 3

Crop Rotation

Answer 3

• Many pests prefer one specific crop or crop family. They lay eggs in the soil, so when larvae hatch, they have preferred food source.
• Rotating crops (planting a different crop each season) can prevent pests from becoming established since it disrupts their preferred food choice
• Also disrupts weed growth since diff. crops can be planted at different times, preventing bare soil from being taken over by weeds

Question 4

Intercropping

Answer 4

• “Push-pull” system can be used
• “Push” plants emit volatile chemicals that naturally repel pests away from crop
• “Pull” plants emit chemicals that attract moths to lay eggs in them, instead of crop
• Canprovide habitat, or “pull” plants that emit chemicals that attract natural pest predators

Question 5

Benefits and Drawbacks of IPM

Answer 5

Benefits:
- Reduces death & mutation of non-target species from
- Reduces effects on human consumers of produce
- Reduces contamination of surface & ground water by agricultural runoff with pesticides

Drawbacks
- Can be more time consuming & costly than just crop dusting pesticides