APES Video Notes 5.14 - Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

IPM basics:

• using a variety of pest control methods that minimize environmental disruption and pesticide use

  • researching and monitoring pests and targeting methods to specific pest life cycles

  • biocontrol (natural predator)

  • crop rotation

  • intercropping

• pros and cons of IPM

  • reduces death and mutation of non-target species

  • reduces effects on human consumers of produce

  • reduces contamination in surface and groundwater

  • can be more time consuming and costly

Crop rotation:

• rotating crops can prevent pests from becoming established

  • disrupts their preferred food choice

• also disrupts weed growth

  • different crops can be planted at different times

    • preventing bare soil from being taken over by weeds

Intercropping

• “push pull” system

  • “push plants emit volatile chemicals that deter pests

  • pull plants attract beneficial insects that prey on those pests

    • creating a balanced ecosystem that reduces the need for chemical pesticides