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Integrated pest management - what is it?
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a sustainable strategy for controlling harmful organisms on crops. It combines different control methods with the aim of minimizing economic damage caused by harmful organisms, while at the same time reducing negative effects on the environment, human health and natural biodiversity.
Principles of integrated pest management:
1. Prevention: Use of preventive measures such as crop rotation, resistant varieties, soil care and promotion of beneficial organisms.
2. Monitoring: regular monitoring of harmful organisms and infestation levels, often with the help of traps, models or visual inspections.
3. Control of thresholds: Measures are only taken when harmful organisms exceed a defined threshold.
4. Combination of methods:
· Biological control: use of natural enemies (e.g. beneficial nematodes, predatory mites, parasitic wasps).
· Cultural measures: Adjustment of sowing time or fertilization to avoid harmful organisms.
· Physical/mechanical methods: use of nets, traps or manual removal of pests.
· Chemical means: Selective use of pesticides if other methods are not sufficient, with a focus on the lowest possible dosage and targeted use.
Advantages of integrated pest management
1. Environmental protection:
· Reduces the use of chemical pesticides and the associated environmental impact.
· Protects beneficial organisms and promotes biodiversity.
2. Health protection:
· Minimizes pesticide residues in food.
· Reduces risks for people who handle pesticides.
3. Long-term effectiveness:
· Reduces the likelihood of pests developing resistance by alternating the use of different control strategies.
4. Sustainability:
· Creates an ecological balance that is maintained for future generations.
· Supports natural regulation mechanisms of pests.
5. Adaptability:
· Flexibly adaptable to different crops, locations and pests.
Integrated pest management is therefore a holistic approach that is economically viable, ecologically sound and socially responsible.
As a biological control measure, our beneficial nematodes have a firm place in numerous integrated pest management measures.
If you would like to find out more about the individual measures in integrated pest management, you will find them here:
https://bioprotectionportal.com/resources/integrated-pest-management-use-and-its-benefits/
