Cultural

Pest management

Examples

• Using plants that are resistant to insects or disease.

Developed using traditional breeding: Mating of parent plants that pass on resistance genes to their offspring.

Developed using biotechnology: Breeding by precision to introduce new resistance genes into the crop from members of the same species (genetic engineering) or from another species (transgenic engineering).

For example, consider a high density of plant hairs along the stem and leaves of a tomato plant. These hairs reduce the likelihood of insects laying eggs and feeding on the plant. Hairs may also contain natural pesticides.

Mechanical

Pest management

Examples

• Physically exclude pests from injuring the crop.

• Mechanical techniques are labour intensive and can be expensive. The strategies work very well but are used depending on the type of crop and scale of production.

Tillage: Agitate the soil to remove weeds.

Trapping: Use visual or scented lures to trap insects on sticky sheets or in buckets.

Barriers: Exclude animals with fences. Exclude insects with a fine mesh known as a row cover. Exclude weed growth by covering the soil with plastic or straw mulch.

Removal: Control weeds by pulling them out. Control insects by squishing by hand, brushing into soapy water, or vacuuming.

Biological

Pest management

Examples

• Using an insect’s natural enemy to reduce the population size. The natural enemies are referred to as ‘beneficials’.

• The farmer can either promote naturally occurring beneficials or add purchased beneficials.

Predatory insects: Eat insects smaller than themselves. Beetles and praying mantis are predators.

Parasites: Live in another organism and eat the host’s nutrients. This results in weakness or death.

Pathogens: Microorganisms that cause disease in the pest and lead to weakness or death.

Genetic

Pest management

Examples

• Using plants that are resistant to insects or disease.

Developed using traditional breeding: Mating of parent plants that pass on resistance genes to their offspring.

Developed using biotechnology: Breeding by precision to introduce new resistance genes into the crop from members of the same species (genetic engineering) or from another species (transgenic engineering).

For example, consider a high density of plant hairs along the stem and leaves of a tomato plant. These hairs reduce the likelihood of insects laying eggs and feeding on the plant. Hairs may also contain natural pesticides.

Chemical

Pest management

Examples

• Substances (synthetic or natural) that are toxic to the target pest and reduce the population size.

• Used as the last option when other techniques do not provide adequate control.

Optimal application time: Understand the pest life cycle to apply the chemical when it will be most effective.

Threshold application: Monitor and only spray when the pest has exceeded a pre-determined threshold.

Protective application: Apply fungicides when weather is known to promote fungal growth.