All Flashcards
How can IPM promote sustainability?
By reducing reliance on chemical pesticides, IPM helps protect soil health, water quality, and biodiversity.
How does crop rotation contribute to sustainable agriculture?
It disrupts pest life cycles, reduces weed pressure, and improves soil health.
How can intercropping enhance sustainable farming practices?
It increases biodiversity, enhances natural pest control, and improves soil fertility.
How can using natural predators promote sustainability?
It reduces the need for chemical pesticides, protecting non-target organisms and ecosystems.
How can physical barriers support sustainable pest control?
They prevent pest access without the use of harmful chemicals.
How can soil health contribute to sustainable pest management?
Healthy soil supports strong plant defenses, reducing susceptibility to pests.
How can water conservation practices support sustainable pest management?
Reducing water stress on plants can improve their resistance to pests.
How can promoting biodiversity on farms enhance sustainability?
Diverse ecosystems support natural pest control and reduce reliance on chemical inputs.
How can reducing food waste contribute to sustainable pest management?
Decreasing demand for crops reduces the need for intensive agriculture and associated pest control measures.
How can supporting local and organic agriculture promote sustainability?
These practices often prioritize IPM and reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides.
What is the goal of IPM?
To reduce pest populations to acceptable levels rather than complete eradication.
Why is IPM considered a flexible system?
It combines multiple control methods and can be adapted to various settings.
How does biodiversity contribute to pest control?
Increased biodiversity supports a variety of natural predators, reducing the need for chemical controls and leading to more stable ecosystems.
Why is IPM a key component of sustainable agriculture?
It minimizes environmental impacts while maintaining crop yields by reducing reliance on chemical pesticides, protecting soil health, water quality, and biodiversity.
Explain the importance of monitoring pest populations in IPM.
Monitoring helps determine when and where control measures are needed, preventing unnecessary interventions.
What is the role of economic thresholds in IPM?
Economic thresholds define the pest population level at which control measures are economically justified.
How does crop rotation help in pest management?
It disrupts pest life cycles and reduces weed pressure by changing the crops grown in a field each season.
What are the benefits of using natural predators in pest control?
They provide a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to control pest populations without the harmful effects of chemical pesticides.
Explain how intercropping enhances natural pest control.
Growing multiple crops together increases biodiversity, confusing pests and providing habitat for beneficial insects.
Why are broad-spectrum pesticides generally discouraged in IPM?
They can harm beneficial insects and disrupt natural pest control mechanisms, leading to pest resurgence and secondary pest outbreaks.
How can promoting biodiversity support sustainable pest management?
Biodiversity enhances natural pest control by providing habitat for beneficial insects and creating more stable ecosystems.
How does reducing pesticide use contribute to sustainability?
It protects soil health, water quality, and biodiversity, and reduces the risk of pesticide resistance and harm to non-target organisms.
How can farmers reduce pesticide drift?
Use drift-reducing nozzles, apply pesticides during low-wind conditions, and establish buffer zones around sensitive areas.
How can farmers improve soil health for sustainable pest management?
Use cover crops, reduce tillage, and incorporate organic matter to improve soil structure, fertility, and water retention, enhancing plant resistance to pests.
How can precision agriculture contribute to sustainable pest management?
Precision agriculture uses technology to monitor crop health, pest populations, and environmental conditions, allowing for targeted and efficient pest control interventions.
How can farmers use trap crops in IPM?
Planting a more attractive crop near the main crop can draw pests away, protecting the main crop from infestation.
How can farmers promote beneficial insect habitats?
Plant flowering plants and maintain hedgerows to provide food and shelter for natural predators and pollinators.
How can farmers use pheromone traps for pest control?
Pheromone traps attract and capture pests, disrupting their mating and reproduction cycles.
How can farmers implement conservation tillage for sustainable pest management?
Conservation tillage reduces soil disturbance, preserving soil structure and organic matter, which supports beneficial soil organisms and enhances plant health.
How can farmers use push-pull strategies in IPM?
Using repellent plants ('push') to drive pests away from the main crop and attractive plants ('pull') to lure pests to a trap crop.