Integrated Pest and Disease Management under Protected Cultivation
This domain tests prevention first, then monitoring, then safe intervention. Closed greenhouses concentrate pests, so sanitation and screening carry more weight than in open field.
IPM sequence
- Exclusion: 40–50 mesh screens, double doors, footbath and clean planting material.
- Sanitation: remove weeds, crop debris and old fruit; disinfect tools and trays.
- Monitoring: yellow sticky traps for whitefly and winged aphids, blue traps for thrips, regular scouting and threshold-based action.
- Biological control: Trichoderma for root pathogens, Bacillus subtilis for foliar disease, Encarsia formosa for whitefly where suitable.
- Chemical control: rotate modes of action, respect pre-harvest interval and never spray in a closed house without PPE.
Worked example
Yellow traps catch rising whitefly numbers on capsicum. Reasoning: early stage favours biological control and precise spraying. Action: check underside of leaves, release Encarsia if temperature suits, improve door seals, and use a selective insecticide only if the threshold is crossed. Repeat trapping to confirm the trend.
Traps that cost marks
- Calendar spraying without scouting, leading to resistance.
- Using a broad-spectrum insecticide that kills natural enemies.
- Ignoring weed hosts inside and around the house.
- Spraying in a closed greenhouse without ventilation and PPE.