KEEPING PLANTS HEALTHY CHAPTER 10 AGRISCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

FIVE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF PESTS INSECTS NEMATODES DISEASES WEEDS RODENTS

CHARACTERISTICS OF INSECTS Insects have three pair of legs. Insects body is divided into three sections: head, thorax and abdomen. The legs and wings, if any, are on the thorax. The abdomen usually has no attachments.

TWO TYPES OF MOUTH PARTS CHEWING : Bite off, chew and swallow parts of plants; examples include cutworms, bean beetles and armyworms. SUCKING : Suck sap from a plant; examples include aphids, chinch bugs, thrips, squash bugs and leafhoppers.

METAMORPHOSIS FOUR STAGES 1. EGG 2. LARVA 3. PUPA 4. ADULT EXAMPLES OF INSECTS WITH COMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS INCLUDE MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES, BEETLES AND BOLL WEEVILS.

INCOMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS 1. EGG 2. NYMPH 3. ADULT EXAMPLE IS A GRASSHOPPER

WAYS INSECTS ARE BENEFICIAL IMPROVE THE SOIL - Allow air to enter the soil or bury decaying parts of plants: ants,wild bees and beetles. HELP POLLINATE PLANTS - Spread pollen from plant to plant: bees, butterflies, wasps and beetles. DESTROY INSECTS - Attack and destroy harmful insects: lady beetles, dragon flies, wasps and ants.

NEMATODES Nematodes are tiny worm-like organisms that live in the soil and attack the roots and stems of plants. Accurate identification requires laboratory testing. Nematodes are carriers of certain diseases.

MAJOR TYPES OF PLANT DISEASES ENVIRONMENTAL 1. Nutrient deficiencies 2. Damage to plant parts 3. Chemical injuries 4. Pollution injuries 5. Weather 6. Naturally-occurring genetic abnormalities PARASITIC 1. Fungi 2. Bacteria 3. Viruses

KINDS OF WEEDS ANNUALS - Morning glory, cocklebur, pigweed, crabgrass, chickweed and henbit are examples. BIENNIALS - Thistle and wild carrot are two examples. PERENNIALS - Dandelion, plantain, bermudagrass, poison ivy and johnsongrass are examples.

PROBLEMS THAT WEEDS CAUSE Keep plants from growing Waste nutrients Lower quality of crop Make harvesting harder Hiding place for insects and disease Look bad

RODENTS EXAMPLES OF DAMAGE Deer that eat soybean plants growing in a field. Raccoon that climb corn stalks and get roasting ears. Rabbits that bit off the tender leaves of new bean plants. Birds that eat grain from sorghum Rats that eat fruit growing near the ground

CONDITIONS NEEDED FOR A PEST TO CAUSE PROBLEMS A PEST MUST EXIST A SUSCEPTIBLE PLANT THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT

WAYS THAT PESTS DAMAGE PLANTS Pests chew holes in plants Pests attack the vascular system Pests attack the fruit Pests contaminate products Pests rob plants of food Pests damage land

HOW DAMAGE AFFECTS THE PRODUCER Reduced yields Lower quality Increased production costs Hiding place for pests Restrict Marketing

WAYS TO PREVENT PEST PROBLEMS Use good seed Destroy diseased plants Use the right fertilizer Disinfect equipment Use good water Control animal movement Use chemicals properly Use tests to check for pests

MECHANICAL METHODS OF PEST CONTROL PLOWING MOWING MULCHING

CULTURAL PRACTICES ROTATE CROPS ROGUING TRAP CROPPING BURNING USE RESISTANT VARIETIES CLEAN AROUND FIELDS

PESTICIDES Chemicals used to control pest. Insecticides - controls insects Nematocides - controls nematodes Fungicides - controls fungi Bactericides - used to control bacteria Herbicides - used to control weeds

TYPES OF INSECTICIDES STOMACH POISONS - Eaten by the insect CONTACT POISONS - Absorbed through the insect’s skin. SYSTEMIC POISONS - Poison is absorbed by the plant and when insects bites or sucks its juice, it gets poison. FUMIGANTS - Enters the insect’s body through the respiratory system.

TYPES OF HERBICIDES SELECTIVE HERBICIDES - Will only kill certain kinds of plants. NON-SELECTIVE HERBICIDES - Used to kill all vegetation where they are applied. TRANSLOCATED HERBICIDES - Absorbed into the plant and moved all through its parts; upset the growth process of weeds.

NON-CHEMICAL MEANS OF CONTROLLING PESTS BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL - Using living organisms to control pests. GENETIC METHODS - Develop crops that are resistant to pests

IPM Integrated pest management is a planned process for controlling pests. Involves using a blend of pest control techniques in a planned program. Field of crops is managed as an ecosystem. IPM has fewer adverse effects on the environment.

SAFETY PRACTICES IN PEST CONTROL Use only approved pesticides Know the pesticide Use the pesticide with low toxicity Use pesticides only when needed Do not contaminate resources Wear protective clothing

SAFETY PRACTICES IN PEST CONTROL Wash the skin after contact Dispose of empty containers properly Apply in good weather Use the right equipment Know the emergency measures