Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management
What this domain covers
Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management tests identification of pests and diseases, monitoring, threshold-based decisions and safe pesticide use. The exam expects IPM as a sequence, not a single spray.
Core rules and concepts
- IPM order: prevention and cultural methods, monitoring, mechanical and biological control, then chemical control only when the economic threshold level (ETL) is crossed.
- Monitor with field scouting, light traps, pheromone traps and yellow or blue sticky traps. Record pest numbers, not just visible damage.
- Cultural control includes resistant varieties, clean seed, crop rotation, destruction of stubble and balanced fertilizer. Excess nitrogen makes crops succulent and more pest-prone.
- Biological control uses Trichogramma, neem-based products, Bacillus thuringiensis and conservation of natural enemies such as ladybird beetles.
- If a pesticide is needed, select the recommended product for that pest, read the label, use the correct dose and nozzle, and observe the waiting period before harvest.
- Do not mix incompatible products; do not spray in strong wind or high heat; keep spray records.
Worked example
In rice, a farmer sees dead hearts and plans a spray. Reasoning: first scout for stem borer; use pheromone or light traps and count dead hearts. If the ETL is not crossed, release Trichogramma japonicum and remove affected tillers. If the ETL is crossed, apply a recommended insecticide at the label dose. Calendar spraying wastes money and kills natural enemies.
Traps that cost marks
Do not spray on a fixed calendar. Do not assume a higher dose works better; it increases residue and resistance. Do not ignore the waiting period, and never use a banned or unlabeled product.