UPMSP Vocational Crop Protection Technology cheat sheet

IPM pyramid order of preference: host resistance and cultural methods first, then biological control, then mechanical/physical, then biorational pesticides, then conventional chemical control as the last resort.

Economic threshold (ET) = pest density at which control action must be taken to prevent the population from reaching the economic injury level (EIL). EIL is the lowest density that causes damage equal to the cost of control.

EIL formula: EIL = C / (D × K), where C = cost of control per unit area, D = damage per pest per unit area, K = expected crop value per unit area.

Action threshold is always set at or below EIL; scouting at fixed intervals (e.g., twice weekly) with fixed sampling units (plant, sweep, trap) is what makes thresholds usable.

Monitoring tools: sweep net for canopy insects, beating tray for beetles and bugs, yellow sticky traps for aphids and whiteflies, pheromone traps for moths, light traps for nocturnids.

Three components of resistance management: rotate mode-of-action groups (IRAC/FRAC/HRAC codes), use labeled rates, and combine with non-chemical tactics to reduce selection pressure.

Invasive pest response sequence: early detection by surveillance, official identification, quarantine/containment, eradication or management, then reporting to the national plant protection organization.

Chewing mouthparts (lepidopteran larvae, beetles, grasshoppers) ingest solid tissue - damage appears as holes, defoliation, boring; control with stomach poisons and contact insecticides.

Piercing-sucking mouthparts (aphids, whiteflies, jassids, thrips, mealybugs) remove sap and transmit viruses; systemic insecticides are more effective than contact sprays.

Lepidoptera life cycle: egg → larva (multiple instars, the damaging stage) → pupa → adult. Larvae account for nearly all caterpillar feeding damage.

Key field pests: stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas) in rice, pink bollworm and American bollworm in cotton, shoot fly in sorghum, termites and white grubs in sugarcane and groundnut.

Key horticultural pests: fruit fly (Bactrocera spp.) in mango and cucurbits, diamondback moth in crucifers, thrips and mites in chilli and onion, leaf miner in tomato.

Sucking pest damage symptoms: honeydew and sooty mould (aphids, whiteflies), upward leaf curling with stunting (leaf curl virus vectored by whitefly), silvery flecking with scarred fruit (thrips).

Soil pests (white grubs, cutworms, termites, nematodes) are diagnosed by digging root zones and are managed with seed treatment, soil drenching, or resistant varieties rather than foliar sprays.

Koch's postulates: isolate the organism from a diseased host, culture it, inoculate a healthy host, and re-isolate the same organism to confirm causation.

Fungal signs: mycelium, spores, rust pustules, powdery mildew, downy mildew on the underside of leaves; bacterial signs: water-soaked lesions, ooze, vascular browning, wilting.

Viral diseases are diagnosed by mosaic, mottling, vein clearing, and stunting, and are managed by vector control and resistant varieties because no chemical cure exists.

Key field diseases: rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae), rice bacterial blight (Xanthomonas oryzae), wheat rusts (Puccinia spp.), wheat loose smut, maize downy mildew, sugarcane red rot.

Key horticultural diseases: late blight of potato and tomato (Phytophthora infestans), bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum), powdery mildew of cucurbits, anthracnose of mango and chilli.

Disease triangle: disease occurs only when a susceptible host, virulent pathogen, and favourable environment coincide; management targets any one leg of the triangle.

Fungicide groups by FRAC code: multi-site protectants (mancozeb, chlorothalonil, copper) low resistance risk; single-site systemics (triazoles, strobilurins) high resistance risk, so rotate groups.

Weed classification by life cycle: annuals (complete life cycle in one season), biennials (two seasons, rosette then flowering), perennials (live more than two years, spread by rhizomes, tubers, or stolons).

Critical period of crop-weed competition is generally the first 30–45 days after sowing; weeds emerging after canopy closure cause far less yield loss.

Selectivity is achieved by placement (directed vs. broadcast), timing (pre-emergence vs. post-emergence), formulation, and differential metabolism in the crop.

Herbicide classification: pre-emergence (soil-applied, e.g., pendimethalin, atrazine) vs. post-emergence (foliar, e.g., 2,4-D, glyphosate); selective vs. non-selective; contact vs. systemic.

Herbicide resistance management: rotate HRAC mode-of-action groups, use tank mixes with different targets, and integrate mechanical and cultural control.

Integrated weed management combines crop rotation, stale seedbed, mulching, mechanical cultivation, competitive cultivars, and judicious herbicide use.

Herbicide injury symptoms: chlorosis, necrosis, epinasty, stunting, and leaf crinkling; drift injury appears on downwind margins and is often confused with disease.

Classification by target: insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides, nematicides, molluscicides; by origin: inorganic, botanical (neem, pyrethrum), synthetic organic, microbial (Bt).

Formulation codes: EC (emulsifiable concentrate, solvent-based), WP (wettable powder), WG (water-dispersible granule), SC (suspension concentrate), SL (soluble liquid), dust, bait, and seed treatment.

Active ingredient (a.i.) concentration is expressed as % w/w, % w/v, or g/L; the dose is calculated from the labeled a.i. rate divided by the formulation concentration.

IRAC groups classify insecticides by mode of action: 1A carbamates, 1B organophosphates, 3A pyrethroids, 4A neonicotinoids, 5 spinosyns, 6 avermectins, 11 Bt, 28 diamides.

FRAC codes classify fungicides: 3 DMI triazoles, 7 SDHI, 11 QoI strobilurins, M multi-site protectants. HRAC codes classify herbicides by site of action.

Resistance risk is highest for single-site modes of action with a long residual and frequent applications; multi-site protectants carry low resistance risk.

Signal words and toxicity: WHO Class Ia/Ib extremely hazardous, II moderately hazardous, III slightly hazardous, U unlikely to present acute hazard in normal use.

Knapsack sprayers: hydraulic lever-operated (manual), compression (pressure maintained by pump), and motorized; each requires calibration before each season.

Nozzle type controls droplet spectrum: flat fan for broadcast herbicide, hollow cone for insecticide/fungicide on foliage, full cone for soil drench, air-induction for drift reduction.

Calibration formula: spray volume (L/ha) = (nozzle output in L/min × 600) / (spray width in m × speed in km/h).

Droplet size is measured as VMD (volume median diameter); fine droplets (<150 µm) drift, coarse droplets (>250 µm) reduce coverage and increase runoff.

Spray drift control: lower boom height, use low-drift nozzles, reduce pressure, spray in low wind (<10 km/h), and avoid temperature inversion conditions.

Maintenance: clean nozzles with a soft brush (never wire), replace worn nozzles when output exceeds 10% of rated flow, and triple-rinse tanks between products.

Sprayer safety checks: pressure gauge, hose integrity, filter screen, non-return valve, and personal protective equipment before any operation.

Exposure routes: dermal (most common in field work), inhalation, oral, and ocular; dermal absorption is highest with solvent-based EC formulations on warm, sweaty skin.

LD50 is the dose killing 50% of test animals, expressed as mg/kg body weight; lower LD50 means higher acute toxicity. LC50 is the concentration in air or water.

Cholinesterase inhibitor poisoning (organophosphates, carbamates): miosis, salivation, lacrimation, urination, diarrhoea, bradycardia, and muscle fasciculation; treat with atropine and pralidoxime under medical supervision.

First aid: move the victim to fresh air, remove contaminated clothing, wash skin with soap and water for 15 minutes, flush eyes with clean water, and take the label to the physician.

Never induce vomiting after ingestion of a corrosive or petroleum-based formulation; follow the label's first-aid instructions and call the poison control centre.

PPE requirements: gloves, coveralls, boots, goggles, and respirator as stated on the label; re-entry interval (REI) and pre-harvest interval (PHI) must be observed.

Empty containers must be triple-rinsed, punctured, and disposed of per local regulations; never reuse them for food or water.

Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) is the legal maximum concentration of a pesticide residue in or on food, expressed in mg/kg, set by the national or Codex authority.

Pre-harvest interval (PHI) is the minimum days between the last application and harvest; it is calculated from residue decline data to keep residues below the MRL.

Residue analysis uses extraction (QuEChERS), cleanup, and detection by GC-MS or LC-MS/MS; results are compared against the MRL for compliance.

Quality control of pesticide products includes a.i. content assay, formulation stability, pH, suspensibility, wet sieve test, and packaging integrity.

Label is the legal document: it states crop, pest, dose, PHI, REI, safety precautions, and first aid; off-label use is illegal and unsafe.

Regulatory compliance: registration of the product, licensing of dealers, record of sales, and periodic inspection by the state agriculture department.

Good agricultural practice (GAP) means using pesticides only when needed, at the labeled rate, with proper timing and equipment, to keep residues within limits.

Enterprise budget: gross margin = gross income − variable costs; net profit = gross margin − fixed costs. Break-even yield = total cost / price per unit.

Custom hiring and service provision (sprayer rental, scouting service, soil testing) are low-capital entry points for rural agri-entrepreneurs.

Farm records to maintain: field diary (date, crop, operation), input purchase and usage, spray log (product, dose, date, PHI), labour, and sales.

Advisory process: diagnose the problem, identify the cause, recommend a solution, and follow up; advice must be based on scouting data, not guesswork.

Digital tools for advisory and records: mobile advisory apps, weather-based disease forecasting, and farm management software for spray logs and traceability.

Market linkage and value addition (grading, packaging, direct sale) improve margins; farmer producer organizations (FPOs) help smallholders negotiate prices.

Business plan components: market analysis, production plan, cost and revenue projections, risk management, and financing sources.

MRL (mg/kg) = maximum legal residue permitted in or on food; it is set from supervised residue trials and dietary risk assessment.

PHI (days) = interval between final application and harvest; it must be at least the labeled value to keep residues below the MRL.

Residue analytical workflow: sampling → homogenization → QuEChERS extraction → cleanup → GC-MS/LC-MS/MS → comparison with MRL.

Quality control tests on a pesticide formulation: a.i. content, pH, suspensibility, wet sieve, persistent foam, and storage stability.

Label is the legal contract: crop, pest, dose, PHI, REI, PPE, and first aid; off-label use is a regulatory violation.

Regulatory framework: product registration, dealer licensing, sales records, and periodic inspection by the state agriculture department.

GAP (good agricultural practice) keeps residues within limits by using the minimum effective dose, correct timing, and proper equipment.