Integrated pest management: what it is and how to do it

Find out now what it is integrated pest management and how you can do it efficiently and practically!

Have you ever wondered how to control agricultural policies in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way?

In short, the Integrated Pest Management (MIP) offers a solution. It combines several control methods, promoting a sustainable agriculture .

The most recent updates were made on July 18, 2022, and new revisions are scheduled for February 23, 2024.

Want to know how to implement IPM on your farm? This article will explain the concept, principles, and benefits of IPM.

We will also detail each step and the control methods.

So, get ready to learn how IPM can improve your agricultural production, reducing costs and minimizing environmental impacts.

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Main extensions

• THE Integrated Pest Management combines multiple control strategies to improve agricultural pest management.
• IPM encompasses cultural, biological and chemical control methods, promoting more sustainable agriculture.
• This method stands out for reducing environmental impact and improving agricultural production yields.
• Continuous monitoring of guidelines is crucial to the effectiveness of IPM.
• THE implementation of MIP requires detailed planning and use of agricultural technologies for better management.

What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

THE Integrated Pest Management , or IPM, is an important strategy in agriculture.

In this sense, it began in the 1970s. It is a form of rigorous control in a sustainable way, without using agricultural pesticides indiscriminately.

This method uses several techniques to keep the rules in check. This helps to avoid economic damage. defensive rationalization is one of the foundations of IPM. It combines chemical, biological and cultural methods to protect plants.

For example, a sweet potato has arthropod resistance. This includes traits such as antixenosis, antibiosis, and pest tolerance.

In crops such as soybeans, IPM can reduce insecticide use by up to 50%.

IPM Principles

The principles of Integrated Pest Management are fundamental to effective policy. infestation prevention is fundamental.

For example, it seeks to prevent forecast growth before it causes damage to crops.

THE pest monitoring is crucial in MIP.

It should be done regularly, from planting to harvest. This keeps the infestation below the critical level.

The excessive use of agricultural pesticides has increased significantly since the 1940s and 1950s.

MIP reduces this.

It encourages the use of methods such as cultural and biological actions, avoiding dependence on defensive chemicals.

Studies show that IPM can reduce insecticide spraying by up to 68%. This can also reduce production costs by up to 8%, such as in soybeans, saving about R$ 70 thousand.

This philosophy helps growers use fewer insecticides and adopt techniques that save money and protect the environment.

Despite the benefits, the global use of agricultural defenses is still high.

According to Deguine et al. (2021), many people do not fully understand the concepts of IPM.

Therefore, it is important to integrate several agronomic tactics to reduce the use of defensive chemicals and promote sustainability.

Benefits of Integrated Pest Management

Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) brings many advantages of MIP for a efficient agriculture . First, it reduces the use of pesticides by up to 50%, as shown by Embrapa.

This helps to preserve fauna and improve the quality of products.

A study in Mato Grosso do Sul showed that areas that gained IPM saved R$ 125.58 per hectare. This happened because they gained fewer pesticides.

Embrapa says a 360-hectare property saved more than R$45 million in one harvest. With more than 33 million hectares of soybeans in Brazil, the savings could reach R$4 billion.

Another great benefit is less pest damage, which helps the economy.

IPM uses techniques such as cultural and biological control to protect production.

This makes production more sustainable.

Comparison of the Economy with the Implementation of the MIP:

Sumitomo Chemical offers crop protection and biological products. This helps farmers to use IPM.

Thus, they ensure a efficient agriculture and quality agricultural products .

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Integrated Pest Management Steps

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a detailed process that involves several steps.

It starts with the monitoring , which assesses the agroecosystem and identifies key practices. This helps predict and control infestations.

Then comes the decision making .

The data collected is analyzed to determine whether action is needed. Farmers decide which management strategies to use.

In the third stage, clear control objectives are defined.

These objectives guide the choice of control methods. It is important to choose methods that protect health and the environment.

The fourth step is the implementation of the measures.

IPM uses techniques such as sustainable chemicals and biological agents. These techniques are chosen according to the need of the work.

The fifth step is the continuous evaluation of effectiveness.

Monitoring after application helps to see if the objectives were achieved. This allows for adjustments and keeps the IPM effective.

It is crucial that farmers reevaluate their management strategies . This helps to control the sustainable and profitable way.

Control Methods in IPM

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) uses several strategies to control pests sustainably.

To the integrated control practices encompass cultural, biological, behavioral, chemical and genetic methods.

These practices help reduce the use of pesticides, making agriculture more sustainable.

The MIP also highlights the importance of monitoring and verifying methods regularly.

This ensures that they are effective and safe.

Cultural Control

Cultural control is a pillar of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

It is an ancient method for preventive prevention.

It makes the agricultural environment less conducive to predictions, affecting their oviposition and host-seeking views.

To use cultural control well, you need to know about the biology, ecology and phenology of the crop.

It is also important to understand the interactions between practices and cultures.

This method is cheaper as it usually only changes production practices.

The most commonly used cultural practices include choosing the right time to plant and harvest.

It also includes preparing the soil, fertilizing and irrigating it clean, and maintaining the crop.

These actions create ruinous conditions for sentences, preventing them from taking hold and multiplying.

THE crop rotation It is very effective against arthropods that live a long time and do not disperse well.

THE destruction of cultural remains helps reduce places where pests can breed.

This includes plants that appear to be alternative hosts.

The following table shows the main tactics of cultural control:

To the cultural practices in forecast management , together with the crop rotation and the destruction of cultural remains , are essential to effectively and sustainably control agriculture.

Biological Control

Biological control uses natural enemies to control agriculture.

Predators, parasitoids and pathogens help maintain the balance in equilibrium.

This increases biodiversity and reduces the use of defensive chemicals.

In Brazil, biological control is very important.

The tropical climate and large areas of monoculture attract them indirectly. To control them, we use various agents, such as insects and wasps.

There are several biological control strategies .

They include conservation, classical and augmentative. Each has its own way of acting.

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Augmentative biological control uses biofactories to produce control agents.

The conservative uses the agroecosystem to maintain natural enemies.

Today, biological control is used more due to the search for sustainable methods.

In Brazil, we import natural enemies with authorization. In Europe, these practices are widely accepted for their environmental benefits.

Choosing biological control helps keep forecasts in check. It also promotes a sustainable agriculture and resilient.

Chemical Control

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) uses methods such as cultural and biological control. However, chemical control is still important.

It is crucial to use protectors rationally to protect the environment and avoid waste.

The choice of insecticide must take into account the type of pest and the manufacturer's recommendations.

The Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) classifies insecticides into five groups.

Insecticides such as organophosphates and pyrethroids affect many organisms.

On the other hand, insecticides such as RCI and Bt are more specific and protect the crop's natural enemies.

Monitoring pests is an effective chemical control strategy. This helps to use pesticides correctly, avoiding unnecessary applications.

Understanding the different types of insecticides is crucial to tailoring control to the needs of the job.

Companies like Corteva Agriscience support producers in adopting Good Agricultural Practices.

These practices promote ecologically conscious management.

Thus, chemical control becomes an important tool, not just an emergency response.