Explore the essential methods of plant protection in agriculture, covering integrated strategies, biological controls, crop management, and more to help crops resist pests and diseases.
Which approach combines biological, physical, and chemical methods to manage crop pests sustainably in agriculture?
Explanation: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) uses a combination of methods for sustainable pest control. Monoculture can increase pest problems due to reduced diversity. Traditional plowing is a soil preparation technique, not a comprehensive protection strategy. Hydroponics is a soil-free cultivation system, not focused on pest management integration.
When ladybugs are released in a greenhouse to reduce aphid populations, which plant protection method is being practiced?
Explanation: Biological control involves using natural predators like ladybugs to manage pests. Chemical spraying refers to pesticides, not living organisms. Mechanical weeding removes weeds, not insects. Crop rotation reduces soil-borne pests but does not involve releasing predatory insects.
What is the main risk of relying solely on chemical pesticides for long-term plant protection in agriculture?
Explanation: Overuse of chemical pesticides can lead pests to develop resistance, making treatments less effective. It does not typically improve soil fertility, pollination, or crop taste, which are unrelated or may even be negatively impacted by heavy chemical application.
Planting different crops in alternating seasons to disrupt pest life cycles illustrates which plant protection principle?
Explanation: Crop rotation helps reduce pest and disease buildup by changing crop hosts. Flood irrigation is a watering method, not a pest management strategy. Synthetic fertilization relates to nutrients, and plant grafting is for propagation, not directly for pest disruption.
Covering crops with fine mesh netting is primarily intended to do what?
Explanation: Fine mesh netting acts as a physical barrier against pests. It does not make plants taste better, increase sunlight (it may reduce it slightly), or directly influence root growth.
What does the term 'economic injury level' refer to in plant protection strategies?
Explanation: Economic injury level refers to the point where pest numbers warrant action to prevent unacceptable financial loss. It is not the total number of pests, insurance value, or only related to weeds.
Why might a farmer select crop varieties bred for disease resistance as part of plant protection?
Explanation: Disease-resistant varieties lower pesticide needs by naturally reducing disease incidence. They usually do not decrease nutrients, extend harvest time, or require extra water compared to susceptible varieties.
If a country blocks the import of certain plants to avoid introducing new pests, which protection method is being used?
Explanation: Quarantine stops new pests from entering an area by regulating movement of plants/materials. Irrigation is watering, fumigation is chemical treatment, and mulching is for soil moisture/weed control rather than preventing pest introduction.
Hand-picking caterpillars from vegetable plants is best described as which form of pest management?
Explanation: Mechanical control refers to physically removing pests by hand or tools. Genetic modification changes crop DNA, biostimulation boosts plant growth, and chemical control uses pesticides, none of which involve manual removal.
How does regular field monitoring support effective plant protection in agriculture?
Explanation: Monitoring enables early pest identification, enabling quick, targeted action. It does not decrease yield, raise pesticide residues, or make crop rotation unnecessary; in fact, it complements these practices.