Page 26 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2024

IPM (Integrated Pest Management)
KELVIN MASON
Blackfly and ladybird on broad bean
This is not a new concept as it was developed in the 1970’s as a holistic approach to pest control (and it includes diseases as well). It has been widely used in the glasshouse industry for many years where it is easier to control many factors. It is widely written about for use outdoors but being a sceptic I am not sure how successful it actually
is at controlling pests. Using IPM likely reduces pest problems and populations but does not fully remove them which to some degree is the idea otherwise there is no food for the predators. Some pests are extremely difficult to get rid of once you have them, two examples are indoor mealy bug and whitefly both of which we have where I work and despite using biological control have not come close to controlling.
IPM is not one single method of controlling pests but a combination of methods that are carried out in an order
to avoid the use of chemicals if possible
or at least using the least toxic chemical. It encourages natural pest control and is the integration of all available plant protection methods and discourages the build up of populations of harmful organisms like pests.
If you are a professional grower under the Sustainable Use Directive 2009 and the subsequent UK Plant Protection Products Sustainable Use Regulations 2012 requires that the principles of IPM need to be implemented. But these do not apply to amateur growers so do not get concerned about them.
So, what are some of the practices that can be used as part of IPM? Many have
been around for years, examples include crop rotation, using resistant cultivars, good crop husbandry and crop walks which
is inspecting your crops once a day or
at least every couple of days so you can spot problems before they become one. Some of you may know them as cultural or physical controls and many have little cost but some do.
The eight general principles of IPM are defined as below:
• Prevention and suppression of pests • Pest monitoring
• Plant protection decisions based on
monitoring and thresholds.
• Preferred use of biological, physical, or
non-chemical control methods
• The selection and use of target specific
pesticides
• Keeping the use of interventions
especially chemicals to a minimum • Following anti-resistance strategies • Evaluating the success of the
strategies
Looking at these in more detail how
do they work? Prevention is avoiding attacks by the pests in the first place, whenever you buy plants check them over to see if any pests or eggs present and if possible, put the plants into quarantine just in case. Putting fine netting over the greenhouse doors and ventilators prevents pests gaining access. Some pests can
be suppressed by cooler temperatures although most are very adaptable which is one reason they are a pest! Using barriers
Cabbage collars
Blue sticky trap
26 Simply Vegetables