Integrated Pest Management Concepts

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic approach to pest control that aims to reduce pest levels to tolerable limits while minimizing environmental and health risks. It focuses on sustainable crop production through three main pillars: prevention, monitoring and evaluation, and intervention. Prevention involves strategies like crop rotation and using resistant plant varieties. Monitoring includes systematic crop inspections and early warning systems. If intervention is needed, a combination of mechanical, biological, and chemical methods is used, ensuring techniques are suited to local conditions.

What is the primary goal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

• To eliminate all pests

• To ensure sustainable crop production

• To use only chemical methods

• To increase pest populations

Which of the following is NOT one of the three main pillars of IPM?

• Eradication

• Intervention

• Prevention

• Monitoring and Evaluation

What is the first step in IPM to avoid the need for intervention?

• Monitoring

• Intervention

• Prevention

• Evaluation

Which of the following is an example of a prevention strategy in IPM?

• Implementing a scouting program

• Using synthetic chemicals

• Using pheromone traps

• Crop rotation

What is the purpose of monitoring and evaluation in IPM?

• To apply chemical treatments

• To increase plant density

• To identify the presence and intensity of pests

• To eliminate all pests

Which technique is used in monitoring and evaluation to alert producers about potential pest increases?

• Mechanical removal

• Using natural predators

• Early warning systems

• Crop rotation

When intervention is required in IPM, what should be considered?

• Only chemical methods

• Only biological methods

• A combination of mechanical, biological, and chemical methods

• None of the above

Which of the following is a mechanical method of intervention in IPM?

• Using natural predators

• Applying synthetic chemicals

• Physical removal of pests

• Using oils and botanicals

What should be followed when applying agrochemical treatments in IPM?

• Over-application

• Random application techniques

• Optimal application techniques

• No specific techniques

What is a key characteristic of IPM as a system?

• It is a flexible system that suits local conditions

• It is a rigid system

• It eliminates all pests

• It relies solely on chemical methods