Integrated Pest Management

Pest Control” Eradication of pests – any method adopted to kill species i.e, 100% elimination of
pest is aimed.

Integrated control: A single method it is not possible to achieve goal so integration of more
than one method to get 100% control.

Pest management: Pests are managed below ETL as 100% control is not possible & is not
desirable because of presence of resistant individuals in a population.

IPM: Aims at combining all available methods of insect pest control in a manner that minimizes
insecticides use & least disturbance to the ecosystem.

Definition: FAO (1967) is a pest management system that, in the context of associated
environment & population dynamics of the pest species, utilizes all suitable techniques &
methods in as compatible a manner as possible & maintains pest populations at levels below
those causing economic injury.

Smith (1978) defined IPM as a multidisciplinary ecological approach to the management of pest
populations which utilizes a variety of control tactics compatibly in a single coordinated pest
management system.

Principles

1) Management of pest below ETL

2) Integrated use of all the method to control pests with least disturbance to ecosystem

In India concept of IPM was introduced by Dr. S. Pradhan who first proposed the integrated
methods of pest control. The strategy to “Kill all” gave way the concept of “Live & live”

Basic principles of Integrated Pest Management :

1.Consideration of Ecosystem :
Control of insect pest population is a function of the ecosystem itself by means of natural enemies
and other factors. Knowledge of the role of the principle elements of the units is essential to an
understanding of population phenomenon. The study of individuals is of prime importance, their
biology behaviour response to other members of the same species and to other organisms and to
biotic factors in the environment. The study of individuals offers a potent method for this analysis of
population change. The most effective system for controlling pests can be derived only after
understanding the principles responsible for the population fluctuation in the ecosystem.
2. Pest Surveillance :
Pest Surveillance and forecasting are having a vital part in the integrated pest management.
Surveillance or monitoring means constant observation of a subject i.e., a crop or pest, and recording
the factors observed, compilation of information obtained and prediction of future events about pest
population. Hence pest surveillance comprises of three basic components.
a. Determination of the level of incidence of the pest species.
b. Determination of what loss the incidence will cause.
c. Determination of economic benefits or other benefits the control will provide.
The above information would be immense use in determining the need for a pest control measure.
Mere presence of a few numbers of pest species should not be the criterion for pesticide application
and there should be sufficient justification. Surveillance can provide the necessary information to
determine the feasibility of a pest control programme. It should be a tool that assists pest
management specialists in determining the actual factors that are involved in a pest build up, so that
the specialists can determine practices that will manage these factors and prevent the initial build up
of a pest.
3. Utilization of Economic Threshold Levels (ETL)
The level of pest population is very important consideration for taking up control measures. Pest
population must be maintained at levels below those causing economic injury. The economic
threshold is the pest density at which control measures should be determined to prevent an increasing
pest population from reaching economic injury level. The determination of these thresholds is a pre-
requisite to the development of any pest management strategy.
4. Application of minimum selective hazards :
The application of chemical measures to pest population has to be in such a manner that target pest
populations are just kept below economic injury thresholds. By observation of this principle the
development of resistant populations of pest is avoided or delayed, the possibility of resurgence of
treated population is decreased, adverse effect on non target organism and amount of environmental
contamination are reduced, and the cost of control is also lowered.
When insecticide treatments are deemed necessary special consideration should be given to (1)
Effectiveness of the insecticide against most vulnerable life stage of the pest (2) Employing an
insecticide that will cause least disturbance in the ecosystem. (3) Applying the insecticide in such a
way that it will restrict its distribution to the area where it is needed.

Advantage of Integrated Pest Management :

1. Fits better in National Economy.
Pest control activities at present are mainly based on the application of chemical pesticides, quite a
large proportion of which has to be imported. The expenditure envisaged for plant protection runs
into crores of rupees even when only one or at the most two pesticide application are envisaged per
crop. High yielding varieties show that many more pesticide applications are called for many crops if
pest control has to depend only on the use of pesticide. Thus a time has come where Integrated Pest
Management is not only advisable but also inevitable.
2. More efficient and cheaper method.
In IPM schedule efforts are made to utilize various methods of control including use of pesticides but
some times and in some cases it is feasible to nip the trouble in the bud itself even by a mechanical
campaign like destruction of egg masses of some pests or collecting the caterpillar stages. In such
cases it envisages a lot of saving in the use of pesticides, this means saving of money and saving of
foreign exchange and also the destruction of the pest before it has been able to inflict damage.
3. Avoid upsetting the balance of nature.
Chemical control has often been reported to upset the balance of nature at times leading to upsurge of
new type of pest problem which did not exist before. The seriousness of mites in many parts of the
world has occurred by the use of DDT. It is confidently expected that such adverse side effects will
be much less as a result of integrated pest management schedule.
4. Minimises residue hazards of pesticides :
It is obvious that in an IPM schedule the use of pesticides will be considerably reduced, hence the
pesticide residue hazards will also get automatically minimised.
……….....

Identify pests, their hosts and beneficial

organisms before taking action

This beneficial insect, the lady bird beetle (top), is munching on aphids. The larva (bottom), which also
consumes aphids, looks very different. Learn to recognize all life stages of both beneficial and pest insects.
Photo credits: Ladybug eating aphid - UNCE; Ladybug larva - Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org

The cause of the problem and associated plant or animal species must be correctly identified. For
many plant problems, the damage is not caused by insects! If you can't find a pest, consider other
causes, including abiotic (non-living) disorders, such as sunscald, wind or cold damage, inadequate
moisture, etc.

Establish monitoring guidelines for each pest

species
Routine monitoring of both pests and natural enemies, also known as beneficial organisms, is an
important part of IPM. Methods of monitoring include visual inspection, pheromone and sticky traps,
and sweep nets. Document and track both pest and beneficial organism population numbers. The
ratio of natural enemies (usually insects) to pests should be taken into account before a pesticide is
applied.

Establish an action threshold for the pest

A fundamental concept of IPM is that a certain number of individual pests can and should be
tolerated. Farmers start by determining whether the pest will cause unacceptable damage to the
value of their crop. What will happen if no action is taken? The action threshold in crop production is
generally based on economics.

Evaluate and implement control tactics

Select tactics that will be most effective, economical and have least impact on non-target species
and the environment. Select methods that will impact beneficial organisms as little as possible while
suppressing the pest. If a pesticide is one of the selected management tools, beneficial enemies
(usually insects) will likely also be killed

Monitor, evaluate and document the results

This allows you to make adjustments to improve the effectiveness of future pest management
strategies.
Keep records to help you determine what worked well, and what to change next year.

History of Pest Management: Over agricultural century farmer developed number of

mechanical physical cultural, biological control to minimize pest damage. Later synthetic
organic insecticides were developed in mid 20 th century & insecticides initially provided
spectacular control of pest & in fact abandoned traditional pest control practices. Later
development of HYV’s led to intensive cultivation of these variety which increased yield & in
turn aggregated pest problem.

The increasing pest problem encountered with heavy insecticide usage led to origin of
IPM.

* Collapse of control system- killing of natural enemies

* Environmental contamination

History of Agril. Pest Control has 3 district phases

1) Era of Traditional Approaches (Ancient – 1938) (use of botanicals. Cultural &

mechanical practices).
2) Era of pesticides (1939-1975)
3) Era of IPM (1976 onward)

Concepts of pest management

a) An understanding of the agril ecosystem

 b) Planning agril. Ecosystem
c) Cost benefit & benefit risks
d) Tolerance of pest damage
e) Leaving pest residue
f) Timing of treatments
g) Public understanding & acceptance

1962: Publication of book” Silent spring” by Rachel Carson which dramatized impact of misuse
& over use of insecticides.

a) An understanding of the agricultural ecosystem: In any given agril. Ecosystem the living
organisms & environment interact with each other to maintain a stale equilibrium position.
Agril. Ecosystem contain less diversity of plant & animal than natural ecosystem (Forest).
Agroecosystem can be more susceptible to pest damage because of Lack of diversity of spp
of plants & insects. Agroecosystem is intentionally manipulated by man. The sudden change
in agroecosystem has led to many problems”.
b) Planning Agril. Ecosystem: In IPM planning should anticipate pest problem. And ways to
avoid it. A crop variety should not be grown if it is susceptible to pest their by intensify need
for pest control. Farmers should grow tolerant varieties to avoid pest problem.
Ex: Rabi Sorghum hybrids are not popular because of shootfly
c) Economics of control: Important for farmer, we should not think only interms of benefits &
he must consider the benefit risk of pest. Control also and many pest control activities have
social & environmental aspects.

1. Cost Benefit: If we spend one rupee we should get more than one rupee. Use chemicals
which are economical + control pest and also increases yield.

2. Benefit / Risk: Apart from economic consideration we have consider benefit – risk factors.
There should be social and economic consideration in developing pest control strategy
particularly when the pesticides are used. Use of insecticides when or which are not required is
contrary to the principles of pest management. Growers should take care of himself and his
workers in handling pesticides similarly he should consider its affect on society & environment.
Ex: Use of monocrotophos causes scorching in sorghum. Carbaryl 50 WP- causes yellowing &
leaf shedding in Redgram.

d) Tolerance of pest damage: Complete freedom from insect attack is neither freedom from
insect attack is neither necessary for higher yield nor appropriate in pest management. Nearly all
plants can tolerate a substantial degree of leaf destruction without appreciate effect on plant
vigour.

E) leaving pest residue

Used of broad spectrum insecticides kills pests completely as a result natural enemies dies out of
starvation

F) Timing of treatments

Treatment should be based on need & a single spray properly planned

Ex: Management of RHHC- apply insecticides when pest is first or second instar . use of

ovicides when there is egg population

G) Public understanding & acceptance Educate & convince farmers

Objectives of pest management

1. To reduce pest status below economic injury level. Complete elimination of pest is not the

objective.

2. To manage insects by not only killing them but by preventing feeding, multiplication and

dispersal.

3. To use ecofriendly methods, which will maintain quality of environment (air, water, wild life

and plant life)

4. To make maximum use of natural mortality factors, apply control measures only when needed.

5. To use component in sustainable crop production.

Requirements for successful pest management programme

1. Correct identification of insect pests

2. Life history and behaviour of the pest

3. Natural enemies and weather factors affecting pest population

4. Pest surveillance will provide above data

5. Pest forecasting and predicting pest outbreak

6. Finding out ETL for each pest in a crop

7. Need and timing of control measure - Decision

8. Selection of suitable methods of control

9. Analysis of cost/benefit and benefit/risk of each control measure

10. Farmer’s awareness and participation

11. Government support

12. Consumer awareness on use of pesticides free products

TOOLS OR COMPONENTS OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

(Arranged in increasing order of complexity)

i. Cultural method or use of agronomic practices

1. Crop rotation 5. Pruning or thinning

2. Crop refuse destruction 6. Fertilizer management

3. Tillage of soil 7. Water management

4. Variation in time of 8. Intercropping

i. planting or harvesting 9. Trap crop

ii. Host plant resistance - Antixenosis, antibiosis, tolerance

iii. Mechanical methods of pest control

1. Hand destruction

2. Exclusion by screens, barriers

3. Trapping, suction devices, collecting machine

4. Crushing and grinding

iv. Physical methods

1. Heat

2. Cold
3. Energy - light trap, irradiation, light regulation

4. Sound

v. Biological methods

1. Protection and encouragement of NE

2. Introduction, artificial increase and colonizing specific parasitoids and predators

3. Pathogens on insects like virus, bacteria, fungi and protozoa

4. Use of botanicals like neem, pongam, etc.

vi. Chemical methods

1. Attractants

2. Repellents

3. Insecticides - OC, OP, carbamates, pyrethroids, etc.

4. Insect growth inhibitors

5. Chemosterilants

vii. Behavioural methods

1. Pheromones

2. Allelochemics

viii. Genetic/biotechnology method

- Release of genetically incompatible/sterile pests

- Transgenic plant

ix. Regulatory/legal method

- Plant/animal quarantine

- Eradication and suppression programme

TOOLS OR COMPONENTS OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

EIL :Economic injury level : Determination of EIL is critical in defining the ultimate objective of
any P.M programme & below which the damage is tolerable and above which specific
interventions are needed to prevent pest out break

Defnition : Stern et. Al (1959) it is the lowest pest population density that will cause economic
damage .

EIL flexible it varies from crop to area to area & even between two adjacent field depending
upon specific agronomic threshold level (ETL): Stern et. Al, (1939) defined it as the density of
pest population at which control measures should be applied to prevent increasing pest
population at which control measures should be applied to prevent increasing pest population
from reaching ETL . it is level just below EIL . At ETL the incremented damage equals the cost
of controlling it. i.e, ratio is 1:1

Potentials of IPM

1) Sustainability
2) Economics
3) Health : production , storage , transport distribution & application of pesticides involves
greater health hazard than safer inputs used in IPM
4) Environmental quality ; IPM does not affect non target organisms, do not pollute air, soil &
water
5) Social and poltical stability : inputs in IPM are based on local resources & outside
dependence is minimized
6) Local knowledge : IPM builds upon indigenious farming knowledge treating traditional
cultivation practices as components of IPM
7) Export of agricultural commodites: there is growing demand for organically cultivated fruits
& vegetables. Presence of residues affect exports

Ex: Pesticides in beverages ( tea & coffee), basmati rice, cotton fabrics rejected for export

Constraints or Limitations in IPM implementation

I) Institutional constraints

IPM require an inter disciplinary, molts functional approach to solve pest problems.
Fragmentaton between disciplines, between Reasearch extension & implementation & between
institutes all lead to lack of institutional integration

II) Informational constraints

The lack of IPM information which could be used by the farmers & by extension workers
is agricultural major constrant

III) Sociological constrants :

Pesticides industry has treated agricultural situation where chemicals are presented as
highly effective & simple to apply. This acts as major constraint

IV) Economic constraints :

A major constraint, even if IPM is adopted in principle is the finding for research,
extension and farmer training needed for an accelerated programme

V) Potential constraints

The relativity low status of plant protection workers in the administrative hierarchy is
agricultural constraints in general improvement in plant protection poltical reason is also major
reason.

Limitations of IPM :

 Ipm technologies are available only for few pest / crops

 Available for limited situations
 Cumbersome to use expect resistant var.
 Not readily available ( parasite, predator, NPV)
 User confidence in IPM approach is still low
 Lack of trained man power
 Financial support
 Socio- economic consideration

Implementation strategies

1) Infrastructure development

IPM is agricultural knowledge based technology. There should be co-ordination between

research, institutes and farmers. Farmers need to be educated IPM technology develop is carried
out by 29 SAV s National institutes crop research institutes and AICRP

2) Human resource development (or improved awareness)

Involves making farmers agricultural confident manager and decision maker free from
dependence on constant stream of pest control instructions . New approach includes farmers
participation to achieve this IPM demonstration and FFS and season long training programme
are need to be conducted.

3) Policy support

The policies on finding research and education IPM necessary to enhance viability of IPM
programme

Subsidies on pesticides have to be with drawn shift from monoculture to crop diversity.
Encourage small farmers instead of commertial land holders phasing out of hazardous chemicals
and emphasis should be given on use of bioagent which is receiving the attention of gout.

4) Pest monitoring

Monitoring of exotic pest and disease through strict. Quarantine laws and their forecasting is imp
through surveillance.

5) Commercialization of bio – control agents and bio- agents

GOI providing finantial assistance to set up 30 state biological control labs to promote use of
bioagents and curtail insecticides. Registration of bioagents is simplified in order to boost their
production

6) Registration nd quality control

About 13 agricultural insecticides registered so far and 35 are widely used. Government banned
11 insecticides and restricted for use for several ones .

7) IPM publicity

To promote and implement IPM linkage with national and international agencies, SAV s NGO s
and private sector is strengthened.

8) Review of package of practices

POP s evolved by state department of Agricultural / SAV recommended only application of

pesticides. These packages need to be reviewed

9) Impact of IPM

In farmers field school (FFS) areas farmers were able to asses the pest situation Weakly
observations – helps in taking appreciate decision

10) IPM sustainability

For achieving sustainability farmers should become experts through FFS

11) Improved awereness .

12) Farmers participation.