PLANT PROTECTION 1 – Pests, Diseases and Weeds

PLANT PROTECTION 1 – Pests, Diseases and Weeds
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)
MAIN STEPS
IPM is not a specific set
of rules, there is no central
program for everyone
PLAN
PLAN
PLAN
?
X.
IPM maximizes the use of non-chemical controls and optimizes/minimizes the use of
chemical methods while taking into account all environmental factors, economics, etc.
IPM provides improved long term control and slows/prevents the development of
pesticide resistance. As the effect of a pest on a crop is influenced by many factors, eg
weather, natural enemies, crop variety, etc, a range of controls is usually needed.
1. Plan well in advance to use an IPM program that fits your situation. Some expertise
is needed to use an IPM plan. Keep records of the crop, eg source of planting
material, planting/sowing dates, temperature, irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides.
2. Plant/crop/region. Know the problems which occur on your crop or in your
region. IPM programs are available for pests on a range of crops in particular
regions. Check if an IPM program is available for your pest/crop, eg
IPM programs are available for some pests, eg twospotted mite, corn earworm
(Helicoverpa) and Western flower thrips (WFT) on particular crops.
Many commercial crops have computer programs and websites which
incorporate and provide information on IPM programs. Best Management Practice
(BMP) programs are available for cotton, grape, citrus, nursery crops. CropWatch
provides commercial IPM services for fruit growers in southern Victoria; Scientific
Advisory Services provides IPM for tropical horticulture.
3. Identification of the pest(s) must be confirmed. Consult a diagnostic service if
necessary (page xiv). Successful IPM depends on sound knowledge of pests, their
beneficials, their life cycles, spread, conditions favouring, population distribution,
etc. Obtain a fact sheet for each pest.
4. Monitoring indicates seasonal trends, the best time to start control if necessary,
and the effectiveness of earlier control measures. Record findings. You must:
Know when it must be done, eg before sowing, before flowering. Warning
services based on weather, calculate when outbreaks may occur.
Check where they are to be monitored, eg leaves, soil, flowers. Checking the top
15cm of soil before planting for earth mites, black field crickets, scarab grubs.
Decide what has to be monitored, eg eggs, larvae or adults of pests and beneficial
insects and/or damage. Check if they are still alive and established.
Know how to monitor, eg sticky traps, lures? Use a x10 hand lens.
5. Threshold. The level of pest numbers or damage at which treatment is necessary to
manage a pest problem. How much damage can you accept? Have any insect and/or
damage thresholds been established? If so, what are they, eg economic, aesthetic,
environmental? It may be nil for quarantine purposes.
6. Action/Control/Decision making. Many control methods will be preventative,
eg pest-tested planting material, seed treatments. Take appropriate action at the
correct time when a prescribed threshold is reached. There may be legal and/or
organic standard requirements. Potential damage may not warrant any action.
For pests not yet in Australia or in some states, quarantine can prevent entry.
For new arrivals spread can be minimized by early detection. Response Programs
assist control of specified pest outbreaks. Noxious pest legislation and other
regulations are most effective during these early stages of invasion, when eradication
could be attempted. Available pest control methods do not eradicate pests unless they
have been selected for a national or state eradication program.
For established pests the best we can hope for is containment using appropriate
control methods strategically and early. Eradication is generally impossible.
7. Evaluation. Review IPM program. Make improvements if necessary which may
involve continued monitoring. Remember the aim is not to eradicate pests (unless
legislated for), but to maintain populations below that which causes economic,
aesthetic, and/or, other effects. Be prepared to accept some damage if appropriate.
PLAN
PLAN
PLAN
PLAN
PLANT
CROP
Each crop has
its own pest
complex.
List the pests
that occur on
your crop in
your region
IDENTIFY
PROBLEM
Enquiry
Which plant sp.
Examine plant
Check history
References
Expert advice
Diagnosis
Fact sheet for
each pest
MONITOR
When to monitor?
Where to monitor?
What to count, eg
pest & beneficial
insects, eggs etc?
How to count?
Keep records
THRESHOLD
Economic?
Aesthetic?
Biodiversity?
Complaints?
Is there a threshold
for this pest above
which controls must
be implemented?
Is it compulsory?
ACTION
CONTROL
?
Legislation
Cultural
Sanitation
Biological
Resistance
Quarantine
Pest-tested
Physical etc
Pesticides
Organic, BMP
Combinations
EVALUATION
Fig. 35. Steps in IPM.
Was the IPM
program
successful?
Did you achieve
the control you
wanted?
Can IPM be
improved?
YES/NO?
Insects and allied pests - Integrated pest management 39