Farmers can explore alternative pest control methods such as mechanical weed removal (e.g., using cultivators or hand-weeding), introducing beneficial insects or predators to control pest populations, employing trap crops to attract pests away from main crops, practicing crop rotation, and ...

Farmers can adopt integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that combine the use of pesticides with other pest control methods such as crop rotation, biological control, and cultural practices. Additionally, they can use pesticides judiciously, following recommended application rates and timing, ...

Excessive use of pesticides can lead to environmental pollution, harm to non-target organisms, development of pesticide resistance in pest populations, contamination of water sources, and adverse effects on human health through food residues or direct exposure.

Pesticides can be applied in various ways, including spraying directly onto crop plants using equipment such as sprayers or dusters, treating seeds with pesticide coatings before planting, and applying pesticides to soil either before or after planting.

Pesticides are chemical substances used to control weeds, insects, and diseases in agricultural settings. They are classified into different categories based on their target organisms, including herbicides (for weeds), insecticides (for insects), and fungicides (for fungi).

Farmers can employ several strategies to manage insect pests and plant diseases, including crop rotation, use of resistant crop varieties, biological control (introducing natural predators or pathogens of pests), cultural practices (such as proper irrigation and sanitation), and judicious use ...

Plant pathogens can be present in various environmental sources such as soil, water, and air. They spread through mechanisms like wind dispersal, water runoff, and soil contamination. Once pathogens come into contact with susceptible plant hosts, they can infect the ...

Plant diseases are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Examples include bacterial blight, fungal rusts, and viral mosaic diseases.

Insect pests can significantly affect crop health by causing physical damage to plant structures and by reducing the plant’s ability to carry out essential functions like photosynthesis. This damage often leads to reduced yields and overall crop productivity.

Insect pests damage plants by cutting the roots, stems, and leaves; sucking the cell sap from various plant parts; and boring into stems and fruits.