Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
An ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests through a combination of biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools.
Также говорят: IPM, integrated crop management, integrated pest control
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) prioritizes the health of the agroecosystem by reducing reliance on synthetic pesticides. The process starts with identifying pests and setting action thresholds. Farmers implement preventative measures, such as crop rotation, habitat manipulation, and the introduction of natural predators, to keep pest populations below levels that cause economic damage.
Practical application relies heavily on scouting and monitoring. Pesticides are used only when monitoring indicates they are needed, and treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target organism. Selecting the most effective and least-risk products helps maintain biodiversity within the field.
Common mistakes include prophylactic spraying without confirming the presence of pests and relying on a single pesticide mode of action. Such practices significantly increase the risk of pest resistance and secondary pest outbreaks.