Description of practice
Integrated pest and disease management is a broad-based approach that considers all available pest and disease control techniques and integrates appropriate measures. The aim is to discourage the development of pest populations and diseases, keeping interventions to levels that are economically justified, and reducing or minimizing risks to the environment, soil and aquatic life and human health.
| Examples of how to use integrated pest and disease management | Further information (see Note below) |
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Pest and disease monitoringSeveral tools are available for pest and disease monitoring including apps for disease recognition and sticky traps for insect monitoring. Monitoring is the basis for integrated pest and disease management. |
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Push-Pull integrated pest and soil fertility managementIn an area affected by stemborer moths, maize is intercropped with a repellent “push” plant (e.g. desmodium). The plot is surrounded by an “pull” plant (e.g. napier grass), attractive to the moths but which secretes a sticky substance trapping their larvae. |
»WOCAT technology 958 |
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Pheromone dispensersPheromone dispensers are used to disrupt the mating of certain insects (e.g. moths in vineyards) in order to increase yield while at the same time preserving biodiversity and the sensitive balance of the ecosystem. Pheromone use diminishes the need for insecticides. |
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Winter food fieldsWinter food fields are not harvested and ploughed until the following spring. They serve as an important food source of grains and herbs and provide refuge for wintering field birds and mice. A more complete food web develops, ensuring lower sensitivity to pests and diseases. |
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Tree buffer zonesIndigenous trees are used to create a buffer zone between fields, preventing the spread of diseases. The trees also enhance the biodiversity of the area. |
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Flower strips for biological pest controlFlower strips are planted in rice fields as habitats for beneficial arthropods which control pests. This prevents pest outbreaks and limits the need for chemical control. |
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GraftingPlants with a higher resistance to pests and diseases are created by grafting seedlings onto resistant root stocks of other plants (e.g. tomatoes onto wild eggplant). |
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Optimal timing of pesticide applicationsThe timing of herbicide and pesticide applications is optimized to reduce the amount applied. Multiple factors (including the time of day, season, stage of crop growth and local weather conditions) should be taken into account in order to make most efficient use of the products and reduce unnecessary pollution. |
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Note: Most of the Further information links are to a full description of the example in the WOCAT database. However sometimes the link may be to similar practices or a research paper. Occasionally the link is to a commercial product in which case it should be understood that this does not imply any endorsement of the product by iSQAPER.