A quest for ecologically based pest management systems

Abstract

/ The article presents a holistic approach to studying and applying crop protection in agricultural systems A theoretical framework of integrated pest management (IPM) is presented that allows an understanding of pest population processes on a wholeagroecological-system basis The need for and emergence of holistic research on agroecosystems is discussed, as are the current trends in ecological theory and pest managementThe search for ways to control the environment is a fundamental drive in human history. At the forefront of these struggles is the quest for ways to deal with agricultural pest organisms. People have experienced direct competition with arthropod pests since the beginning of agricultural activities. In those times, the operation of farms was an art based on field knowledge accumulated from years of experience and transmitted from generation to generation. Primitive farmers lacked elements of refined technology and the capability to produce at a high capacity. Nevertheless, their practices were to a large extent self-sustaining and efficient (Black 1971). Their crop systems were diversfied, and nutrients and other resources were recycled. These farming systems still prevail in many areas of the tropics (Janzen 1973).As scientific advances developed, the resulting technologies were incorporated into agricultural practices. Also, the expanding human population increased the demand for greater production capacities. This led to the increased intensification of agriculture, characterized by even sharper specialization in certain commodities, and a dependence on fossil energy and vast crop monocultures. The fact that the emerging modern crop systems are ecologically unstable and that serious pest problems can be anticipated in such systems has become very apparent (Southwood and Way 1970, van Emden andWilliams 1974).A desire for and expectation of finding a magical cure-all for pest problems fostered a persistent effort toward increasing use of synthetic chemical compounds at the expense of desirable cultural practices and biological regulation concepts (Van den Bosch and Telford 1964). A great deal of valuable ecological lore of the early farmers was lost in the midst of technological advances. Modern agriculturalists have not adequately balanced the pursuit of immediate maximization of crop yields KEY WORDS: Agroecosystems; Integrated pest management (IPM); Holistic approaches; Ecosystem-oriented pest management and profits with an appreciation of the importance of maintaining resource diversity and biological stability as a means of helping sustain relatively high yields on a long-term basis. Moreover, in our educational programs the agroecosystem has been largely viewed as consisting of components to be studied separately by various independent disciplines. Unfortunately, this orientation disregards the holism of the agroecosystem, masking features of the system that could be critical for understanding the complex system interactions that govern the production process. Plant protection is no ...

Allelopathy

“…Altieri et al (1983) mentioned that different plants and their volatile compounds can improve and make more attractive the habitat and the selection of pest host. Altieri et al (1983) mentioned that different plants and their volatile compounds can improve and make more attractive the habitat and the selection of pest host.…”

Legumes for feed, food, biomaterials and bioenergy in Europe: a review

“…encouraged some actors in the agricultural world to seek practices that were more environmentally friendly. But the transition towards more sustainable agriculture did not develop quickly, in spite of the recommendations advanced by many studies (Altieri et al 1983;Hill and MacRae 1995;Millenium Ecosystem Assessment 2005;Aubertot et al 2005;LeRouxetal.2008;Butault et al 2010). Such aims can be achieved by innovative production methods limiting the use of inputs and based on developing diversity and bio-(eco)-logical regulations in the agro-systems, collectively termed "agroecology" (Altieri 1992;Altieri and Nicholls 2012).…”

Environmental heterogeneity drives tsetse fly population dynamics

“…Efficient control methods have to be designed considering the ecological strategy of the concerned 414 species (Southwood et al 1974;Conway 1977). Fast action methods such as chemicals are better 415 suited for species showing high reproductive rates, short generation times, along with broad food 416 preferences and good dispersing abilities (Altieri et al 1983). In contrast, pests reproducing at lower 417 rates and having longer generation time but good competitive abilities would be more efficiently 418 restrained with cultural control, host resistance, and sterilization (Altieri et al 1983).…”

“…Fast action methods such as chemicals are better 415 suited for species showing high reproductive rates, short generation times, along with broad food 416 preferences and good dispersing abilities (Altieri et al 1983). In contrast, pests reproducing at lower 417 rates and having longer generation time but good competitive abilities would be more efficiently 418 restrained with cultural control, host resistance, and sterilization (Altieri et al 1983). Nonetheless, 419 such quite extreme characteristics should be considered in conjunction with species relationships 420 within communities (Ehler & Miller 1978;Altieri et al 1983).…”

“…In contrast, pests reproducing at lower 417 rates and having longer generation time but good competitive abilities would be more efficiently 418 restrained with cultural control, host resistance, and sterilization (Altieri et al 1983). Nonetheless, 419 such quite extreme characteristics should be considered in conjunction with species relationships 420 within communities (Ehler & Miller 1978;Altieri et al 1983). Our model provides a relevant tool to evaluate complex control strategies as it accounts 432 simultaneously for density-dependent processes, spatial and temporal environmental heterogeneity, 433 and all stages of tsetse lifecycle possibly targeted by control measures.…”