Crop Protection Module 1 PDF

Page 1 of 5 MODULE 1 Introduction to Crop Protection The crop husbandry introduction created by human civilization paved one of the basic causes of pests’ development including but not limited to diseases, insects, and wee...

Page 1 of 5 MODULE 1 Introduction to Crop Protection The crop husbandry introduction created by human civilization paved one of the basic causes of pests’ development including but not limited to diseases, insects, and weeds. The extreme and continued alteration of the ecological conditions led to the destruction of the nature’s biological balance. The clearing of areas intended for crop production, be it small or large scale, involved the destruction and alteration of natural vegetation and the living organisms residing in that ecosystem. The cultivation of crops and the selection of plants for yield and human acceptability magnified the situation leading to population explosion of pests. The intercontinental transport and trading also added to the introduction as well as establishment of new pests from other areas across the globe. Other factors enhancing creation of pest problems are brought about by human’s habits/preferences and economic conditions. For example, as the people’s standard of living rises, their taste and preferences will change. In this manner, they can no longer tolerate few blemishes or even small holes created by caterpillar on fruits and vegetables. Thus, they resort to activities or in using substances to eradicate pest’s presence on food. World Population and Food Supply World population increases and food demand has grown. Globalization of trade has made the food supply more sensitive to environmental and market fluctuations. This leads to greater chances of food crises, particularly in nations where land and water resources are in scarcity and therefore, food security strongly relies on imports. This globalization of food may contribute to the spread of the effects of local shocks in food production throughout the world. Food security is typically defined as the availability of and access to a sufficient amount of food to meet the requirements of human societies at all places and all times. In order to have food security, food availability and accessibility need to be sustainable and resilient to perturbations associated with shocks in production and price spikes. As the globalization of food increases, the coupled population/food system becomes more fragile and susceptible to conditions of crisis. Countries that strongly depend on trade for their food supply appear to be more susceptible to instability and periodic food crises than exporting countries. The coupling of population and food dynamics might be becoming increasingly unbalanced and that, because of trade dependency, exposure to food insecurity is increasing. Role of Crop Protection in Food Supply The challenge of feeding a global population of an estimated count of 7.6 billion this August 2018 cannot be met without access to modern crop protection tools. On March 12, 2012 the world's population already reached 7 billion, an increase of 5.5 billion since 1950. CROP PROT 111 – PRINCIPLES OF CROP PROTECTION  Page 2 of 5 MODULE 1 There was a reduction in the amount of farmland available to feed each person on the planet from 0.5 hectares in 1950, to 0.2 hectares in 2011. With agriculture consuming around 70% of the world's water and contributing around 12% to global greenhouse gas emissions, crop protection has a vital role to play in increasing food production, while ensuring we make more efficient use of scarce land, water and energy resources. Without effective tools to protect crops against yield losses caused by weeds, insect pests and diseases, global food production would fall by 40%. This would be disastrous for the world, resulting in more famines and diseases, loss of wildlife and biodiversity, mass migration of people, wars and terrorism. World hunger is on the rise: the estimated number of undernourished people increased from 777 million in 2015 to 815 million in 2016 (FAO et al., 2017). The food security situation visibly worsened in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, South Eastern and Western Asia. This was most notable in situations of conflict, in particular, where the food security impacts of conflict were compounded by droughts or floods, linked in part to El Niño phenomenon and climate-related shocks. This huge increase in demand for a wider variety of foods in rapidly growing economies such as China, the international community must ensure that access to modern crop protection is at the heart of global food security policies. Definition of Pest Pest → any organism that interferes with the activities and desires of humans. → any organism which causes damage to crops and animals. → includes weeds, insects, pathogens, vertebrates and other organisms that disrupt plant functions. Characteristics of a pest 1) A pest must cause injury → in order for an organism to be considered a pest, a damaging stage of the organism must be present in high enough numbers to cause actual injury to something valued by man. 2) “Pest” is not a property of a species → being a pest is not an inherent property of a species but, rather, a species (along with its population and age distribution at a given time and place) and a human valuation of the item being injured or damaged. Kinds of Pests Key/major pest → pest with permanent population levels which are persistent and cause significant reduction in yield if not controlled or managed. CROP PROT 111 – PRINCIPLES OF CROP PROTECTION  Page 3 of 5 MODULE 1 Minor pest → under normal conditions, their populations are low and cause insignificant damage. Potential pest → do not cause significant yield loss under a prevailing management practices but have the potential to become pests if those practices are changed. Migrant pest → highly mobile and infest the crop periodically for short period of time, often inflicting serious damage (i.e. locust & armyworm) Accessory pest → vectors & alternate hosts Direct pest → affects directly the parts of the plant that constitute the final product of the harvest Indirect pest → do not affect directly the parts of the plant that constitute the final product of the harvest. Economic Importance of Pests a. Damage plants and plant products (on which human depend for food, clothing, shelter and others). b. Cause economic losses to growers. c. Increased prices of farm products. d. May wipe out entire plant species. e. Result in high cost of production and handling (due to high cost of materials, equipment and labor incurred in controlling the pests). f. Destroy the beauty of the environment. Various Disciplines Involved in Crop Protection As the science of plant protection has developed, it has been necessary for an increasing number of disciplines to become involved so that the full dimensions of plant protection problems are appreciated, and a range of tools and approaches are developed that enable these problems to be resolved in an economic and sustainable way. Scientists from the following disciplines are needed to be involved in Crop Protection: Biology ― biologists working on pest organisms such as insects, diseases, nematodes and weeds are required for identifying pest species, and understanding their population dynamics and the natural factors that influence their abundance. CROP PROT 111 – PRINCIPLES OF CROP PROTECTION  Page 4 of 5 MODULE 1 Agronomy ― agronomists are involved in determining the impact that pest attack has on the yield and quality of crops and the role of plant tolerance and compensation in ameliorating the damage caused by pests. Chemistry and Agricultural Engineering ― chemists and engineers are required to develop new pesticides and bio-pesticides and to design pesticide application technologies that effectively deliver the pesticide to the target pest. Genetic Engineering ― genetic engineers are increasingly involved in developing molecular identification techniques and genetically modified crops that have built-in resistance to pest attack. Information and Communication Technology ― information technology and communication experts are involved in developing online identification aids and providing new communication technologies. Social Sciences ― social scientists, including economists and sociologists, investigate the various on-farm and off-farm factors that affect the feasibility and economic outcomes of crop protection strategies, including the information, training and political opportunities and constraints to an improved plant protection. CROP PROT 111 – PRINCIPLES OF CROP PROTECTION  Page 5 of 5 MODULE 1 REFERENCES: CHONG, K., P. OOI and H.C. TUCK. 1991. Crop Pests and Their Management in Malaysia. Art Printing Works. Malaysia. 242 p. DENT, D. 2000. Integrated Pest Management. Second Edition. CABI Publishing, CAB International, UK. 410 p. Environmental Guidelines for Small-Scale Activities in Africa (EGSSAA): INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT. 2009. Available online: www.encapafrica.org. IOWA State University Extension and Outreach and North Central IPM Center. Undated. Available online: http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/files/01%20IPM% 20Introduction.pdf. Retrieved: June 4, 2016 REISSIG, W.H., E.A. HEINRICH, J.A. LITSINGER, K. MOODY, L. FIELDLER, T.W. MEW and A.T. BARRION. 1986. Illustrated Guide to Integrated Pest Management in rice in Tropical Asia. IRRI. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. University of California. IPM online. Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. www.GENERAL/whatisipm.html revised: August 8, 2012. https://www.assignmentpoint.com/science/zoology/vertebrate-and-invertebrate-pests.html Retrieved: September 3, 2020 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat Retrieved: September 3, 2020 https://thepestrangers.com/bat-pest-control-top-7-things-you-should-know/ Retrieved: September 3, 2020 https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/nuisance-wildlife/bats/ Retrieved: September 3, 2020 http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74150.html Retrieved: September 3, 2020 Various PowerPoint presentations prepared by Dr. LARRY V. ACERES, Professor, Department of Agricultural Sciences, College of Agriculture and Related Sciences, USeP Tagum- Mabini Campus, Pindasan, Mabini, Davao de Oro. CROP PROT 111 – PRINCIPLES OF CROP PROTECTION