Integrated Pest Management, IPM

Integrated Pest Management
IPM

It is the package of measurements purposely conducted to minimize the population of undesired insects. Unlike chemical control – IPM has no threshold level to start at, it is to be performed even before sowing date. The measurement steps are:

1. Resistant seed varieties to be selected

Using resistant seed varieties decrease the incidence drastically – in some vegetable seed envelopes written VFN where V stands for Verticillium, F stands for Fusarium, while N stands for Nematodes

2. Effective sowing date

Modifying the sowing date early or late is very effective in attach avoidance, BUT be aware of the implications pertained to crop physiology and market requirements

3. Effective soil preparation

Beside subjecting larva and eggs of insects to sun desiccation – plough easing root penetration, improve aeration and Water-Holding-Capacity, the three previous factors help plant vigor for effective protection

4. Crop Rotation

Rotating crops prevents pests to have hosts recurrently, also this rotation allows effective different nutrient utilization by different crops to assist in minimizing pest damage

5. Trap crops

Less-value crops are to be planted surrounding valued crops – mostly insects get satisfied eating from the peripheral plants and get away

6. Inter-cropping

Some crops like onion and garlic release an insect repellent ador, more than that farmers will benefit an additional crop using almost the same efferot

7. Hand-picking

“Trifle sparks develop huge fires” Just collect the adult insects, their eggs pupa or larva and destroy, this technique is feasible to control big-sized insects and larvae, it also include picking off the suspected leaves or twigs

8. Clean the field

Get rid of plant debris and other un-necessary particles, this will minimize pests like rodents, dogs, cats etc.

9. Make barriers

Like deep holes or plastic sheets – definitely this technique is good small-sized homesteads

10. Raised beds

This technique is applicable to nurseries – in which nursery bed is erected in a bed-like structure

11. Botanical pesticides

Apply botanical pesticides, they are not toxic available and cheap like Neem tree leaves, cow urine or chili if available in abundance like in some parts of South Kordofan where it is widely exists

12. Botanical pesticides

Lastly and least – in a cautiousness apply the friendly chemical pesticides – although they are not that much available!