Assignment No: 01 Assignment Name ID NO
Date: INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT 2004030
INTRODUCTION
Stuart Kearns, Manager of Farm Bio security Programs at Plant Health Australia, said “For
Integrated Pest Management to be effective, producers need to be familiar with the life cycle
and crop thresholds of pests and to act when pest numbers begin to impact on crop growth
and cause economic damage.” Integrated pest management (IPM) combines the use of
biological, cultural and chemical practices to control insect pests in agricultural production.
COMPONENTS OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT IN TEA PLANTATION
Figure: Components of IPM
Combinations of IPM components could be applied e.g. short interval plucking to reduce
attack of Helopeltis, Jassid, Aphid, leaf roller; light pruning to prevent Helopeltis; higher
dosage of potassium KCI to increase resistance to pests; mulching to increase diversity and
populations of natural enemies; weed control to eliminate alternate host of the pests etc.
ADVANTAGES OF IPM
Reduce chemicals being used
Only uses chemicals if necessary
Long term benefits( lower cost for chemicals)
DISADVANTAGES OF IPM
IPM requires time to implement and can take longer to eliminate a problem than
traditional methods.
Pest managers need to learn IPM methods and how to implement them.
CONCLUSION
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic approach to pest control that combines
biological, cultural, and chemical methods to address pest infestations effectively. While it
offers significant advantages, such as reducing chemical use, minimizing environmental
impact, and providing long-term cost benefits, IPM requires a thorough understanding of pest
life cycles, crop thresholds, and proactive intervention.
