Pest ManagementChapter 8

Textbook pages 163-200

Essential Questions

What are plant pests and how do they cause losses in horticulture?

What are the five major categories of pests?

What are the major classifications of pesticides?

What are the main environmental concerns involved with pesticide use?

What are plant pests and how do they cause losses in horticulture?

A plant pest is anything that causes injury or loss to a plant and usually results in a decrease in production. Plant pests:

Damage plant parts -Photosynthesis cannot be carried out efficiently

Compete for space and nutrients

Reduce the quality of harvested crops –contamination, infestation of insectsprices paid to the grower are lowered

Increase production cost –Reduced yields increase the cost

What are the five major categories of pests?

INSECTS

NEMATODES

WEEDS

DISEASE

RODENTS

What are the five major categories of pests?

INSECTS• Some insects are beneficial, some harmful, and

others a nuisance.• Several ways insects can be beneficial:

Earthworms aerate the soil

Bees pollinate flowers

Other insects attack and kill insect pests

Preying Mantis, Lady Beetle, Green Lacewing

What are the five major categories of pests?

NEMATODES• Microscopic, worm-like invertebrates that

invade roots of plants and reduce the plant’s vigor

Thousands of nematodes can live in just 1 square centimeter of soil!!!

GROSS!

What are the five major categories of pests?

WEEDS• Any plant growing out of place is a weed.

Weeds:

• Compete with the crop for light, nutrients, and water

• Harbor insect and disease which can be spread to the crops

What are the five major categories of pests?

DISEASE• Plant diseases are abnormal conditions in plants that

interfere with their normal appearance, growth, structure, or function.

• Abiotic diseases – noninfectious • Biotic diseases – caused by parasites or

pathogens that are infectious and transmissibleOrganisms that cause diseases:

FungiBacteriaViruses

What are the five major categories of pests?

RODENTS• Animal pests eat the leaves, stems, fruit, and roots of

plants.• Some dig tunnels in the soil which damage land and

plants.

What are the major classifications of pesticides?

A pesticide is a chemical used to control pests.

Each type of pesticide is classified according to the type of pest it controls.

PESTICIDE PEST InsecticideInsectsFungicide FungiAvicide BirdsRodenticideRodentsNematicideNematodesBactericideBacteriaHerbicide Weeds

What are the main environmental concerns involved with pesticide use ?

There are a number of situations when pesticides may become an environmental problem:

1. Pesticides that are present in non-target areas.

2. Pesticides that are not biodegradable

(able to be decomposed)

3. Careless disposal of leftover chemicals or empty containers.

What are the main environmental concerns involved with pesticide use ?

Pesticides that are present in non-target areas:

A non-target area is an area in which the pesticide was not intended. These areas can be affected by:

- Drift – the movement of a pesticide through the air

- Surface runoff – water from precipitation that does not soak into the soil

- Leaching – movement of pesticide that is dissolved in water and moves through or out of the soil (contaminates groundwater supplies)

What are the main environmental concerns involved with pesticide use ?

Pesticides that are not biodegradable:

• If pesticides do not decompose, they can accumulate (collect) in groundwater, plants, or animals.

• Pesticides that have these characteristics should be avoided!!!

What are the main environmental concerns involved with pesticide use ?

Careless disposal of leftover chemicals or empty containers:

This situation is one of the most destructive and easiest to solve.