Pests and Weeds are some of the major reasons for the reduction in crop productivity by 10-20%. The impact is significant at the micro-level in terms of financial loss and at the global level of food insecurity. Several Crop Protection methods are in practice.
The method is chosen depending upon the type of pest. Among various methods to control the pests, Farmsio suggests Agronomic practices in this post.
Through the suggested practices comprise of cultural methods.]
𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 - 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞, 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - Removal of breeding grounds for insects like cow dung piles.
𝐓𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - Insect eggs and harmful weeds are destroyed by ploughing. Instead of Mono crop, Mixed cultivation provides an unfavourable environment for pest multiplication.
𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - Disease resistance or pest tolerance seeds and produce high yield are cultivated to suit different ecosystems.
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 - Best Weather conditions are chosen to influence pest-free development of crops.
𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - Densly cultivated plants can hold humidity within the canopy thus provides a favourable ground for pest multiplication. Intra and interspace planting can reduce the risk.
𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐞 & 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - Excess use of nitrogen attracts leaf-eating pests. Balanced application of NPK helps crops tolerate pests and diseases.
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐩 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 - A pest is significantly attracted by a crop by which a major crop can be saved from pests. During the boll formation stage in cotton, if Bhendi (Oakra/Ladies finger) is planted as intercrop, the pests are diverted to bhendi and cotton is protected.
𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 - It is a method by which deep vertical trenches are dug between the fields which prevent the movement of caterpillars.In the case of red hairy/black hairy Caterpillars, this method is extensively followed.
𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼:Website: https://farms.io