Pests and Diseases
PLANT PROTECTION PROBLEM SOLVING
A three-phase approach to problem solving in plant protection is required in decision making before implementing a control program.
The process involves 3 phases of decision making.
1. DIAGNOSIS: Is there a problem and if so what is it.
2. CONTROL: Is control necessary, yes or no.
3. TREATMENT: How will control be achieved.
PHASE 1 DIAGNOSIS:
Collect relevant information or facts such as symptoms or signs of pest presence.
Correctly identify the pest, damage or disease.
Sort through the information collected to form assumptions and opinions about the particular pest or disease.
Check your assumptions by researching texts etc.
PHASE 2 CONTROL:
Before embarking on any control measures ask yourself questions such as:
Should we act now to prevent further damage?
Is control really necessary?
Is it too late to achieve effective control?
Other points that need to be considered before employing
a control measure are:
Plant characteristics
Characteristics of the causal organism
Environmental characteristics
Cultural history of the plant/s
The extent of the problem
PHASE 3 TREATMENT
The specific type of control measure or treatment decided upon will largely be dictated by the five points outlined under control.
We can use non-chemical or chemical control methods.
If chemical control is warranted, a sound understanding of the types of chemicals available, how they work, how they should be applied and what they control is paramount.
Non-chemical control methods are receiving broader acceptance in horticultural circles and range from physical control, cultural control or Biological control.
Many growers are now achieving significant success by implementing Integrated Pest Management methods. This involves the selective use of both chemical and biological agents to achieve control or sustain pest organisms to a manageable level in a crop.
Gardenet takes no responsibility for the action and remedies provided. Whilst all information given is known to be true and correct, the decision of the recipient to use the information is at their own discretion.
