Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Climate change mitigation encompasses the
actions being taken, and those that have been pro-
posed, to limit the magnitude and/or rate of long-
term global warming-induced climate change.
• Biosecurity, quarantine, monitoring, and
control measures can be strengthened to con-
trol the spread of pests and diseases under a
warming climate.
• More resilient/adaptable crop genotypes needed,
especially with durable resistance to pests.
• Adoption of environmental conserving pest con-
trol activities such as organic farming, biocontrol,
and integrated (ecological) pest management.
• Application of natural mulches helps in sup-
pression of harmful pests and diseases.
• A diverse fauna of natural enemy species can
successfully suppress pests.
• Mulching and reduced tillage, for example,
increases spider abundance.
• Specifi c relationships between pests and host
plants are interrupted by crop rotations.
• A “healthy” soil, with optimal physical, chem-
ical, and biological properties, increases plant
resistance to insects and diseases.
• Avoidance of excess use of nitrogen which
can increase the severity of certain diseases
and make a crop more susceptible to pests.
• Organic agriculture system uses crop rotation,
green manure, compost, biological pest con-
trol, and mechanical cultivation to control
pests. Organic systems avoid the use of syn-
thetic pesticides and rely on cultural practices
such as crop rotations which break up pest
cycles and encourage benefi cial insects.
• Polyculture techniques such as crop rotation,
multi-cropping, and intercropping are less
susceptible to pests than monoculture crops.
• In addition to the prudent application of pesti-
cides, increased use of nonchemical pest con-
trols (crop rotations, biological controls,
altering planting dates and fertilizer and irri-
gation applications, and soil management and
tillage) would help minimize crop losses and
thereby help maintain crop yields.
• Genetically engineered plants have been
designed to resist pests, diseases, and nema-
todes without the need for pesticides.
• The growers of the crops have to change pest
crop calendars in accordance with the projected
changes in pest incidence and extent of crop
losses in view of the changing climate.
• Geographic Information System (GIS) is an
enabling technology for crop protection scien-
tists, which help in relating pest outbreaks to
biographic and physiographic features of the
landscape, hence can best be utilized in area
wide pest management programs.
• Pesticides with novel mode of actions such as
neonicotinoid insecticides for controlling
sucking pests which induces salicylic acid-
associated plant defense responses. Such more
compounds need to be identifi ed for use in
future crop pest management.
•
Integrated pest management (IPM) is an effec-
tive and environmentally sensitive approach to
pest management that uses current, compre-
hensive information on the life cycles of pests
and their interaction with the environment to
manage pest damage by the most economical
means and with the least possible hazard to
people, property, and the environment.
6.6
Conclusions
Global warming and climate change will have seri-
ous consequences on diversity and abundance of
pests and the extent of losses due to pests, which
will impact both crop production and food security.
Prediction of changes in geographical distribution
and population dynamics of pests will be useful to
adapt the pest management strategies to mitigate
the adverse effects of climate change on crop pro-
duction. Pest outbreaks might occur more fre-
quently, particularly during extended periods of
drought, followed by heavy rainfall. Some of the
components of pest management such as host
plant resistance, biopesticides, natural enemies,
and synthetic chemicals will be rendered less effec-
tive as a result of increase in temperatures and UV
radiation and decrease in relative humidity. Climate
change will also alter the interactions between the
pests and their host plants. As a result, some of the
cultivars that are resistant to pests may exhibit sus-
ceptible reaction under global warming. Adverse
effects of climate change on the activity and effec-
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