Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
12.5.3 Soil Management
EPM is a biotechnology belonging to the
denominated “clean” technologies which
combines the life cycle of crops, insects, and
implicated fungi, with natural external inputs
(i.e., biopesticides) that allows a better guarantee
of good harvesting even in diffi cult conditions of
pests and diseases that emerge with the tempera-
ture and water level changes (increase of relative
atmospheric humidity and runoff) typical of cli-
mate change. Thus, it is a biotechnology for fac-
ing uncertainty caused by climate change.
EPM contributes to climate change adapta-
tion by providing a healthy and balanced eco-
system in which the vulnerability of plants to
pests and diseases is decreased. By promoting a
diversifi ed farming system, the practice of EPM
builds farmers' resilience to potential risks
posed by climate change, such as damage to
crop yields caused by newly emerging pests and
diseases.
The basis of this natural method of controlling
pests is the biodiversity of the agroecological
system. This is because the greater the diversity
of natural enemy species, the lower the density of
the pest population, and as diversity of natural
enemy species decreases, pest population
increases.
The key components of an EPM approach are:
Maintaining soil nutrition and pH levels to
provide the best possible chemical, physical, and
biological soil habitat for crops. Practices
include:
Building a healthy soil structure according to
the soil requirements of the different plants
(such as deep/shallow soil levels or different
mineral contents).
Using longer crop rotations to enhance soil
microbial populations and break disease,
insect, and weed cycles.
Applying organic manures to help maintain
balanced pH and nutrient levels. Adding earth-
worm castings, colloidal minerals, and soil
inoculants will supplement this. Microbes in
the compost will improve water absorption
and air exchange.
Soil nutrients can be reactivated by alleviating
soil compaction.
Reducing soil disturbance (tillage) - undis-
turbed soil with suffi cient supply of organic
matter provides a good habitat for soil fauna.
Keeping soil covered with crop residue or liv-
ing plants.
12.5.4 Pest Management
12.5.2 Crop Management
Using benefi cial organisms that behave as para-
sitoids and predators. Practices include:
Releasing benefi cial insects (predators) and
providing them with a suitable habitat
Managing plant density and structure so as to
deter diseases
Cultivating for weed control based on knowl-
edge of the critical competition period
Managing fi eld boundaries and in-fi eld habi-
tats to attract benefi cial insects and trap or
confuse insect pests
IPM strategies can exist at various levels of
integration. Note that integration at all four levels
is not common:
Control of a single pest on a particular crop
Control of several pests on the same crop
Several crops (and non-crop species) within a
single production unit (farm)
Selecting appropriate crops for local climate and
soil conditions. Practices include:
Selection of pest-resistant, local, native variet-
ies and well-adapted cultivars
Use of legume-based crop rotations to increase
soil nitrate availability, thereby improving soil
fertility and favorable conditions for robust
plants that better face pests and diseases
Use of cover crops, such as green manure to
reduce weed infestation, disease, and pest
attacks
Integration of intercropping and agro-forestry
systems
Use of crop spacing, intercropping, and prun-
ing to create conditions unfavorable to the
pests
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