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Natural Pest Management : PREVENTIVE
MEASURES Preventive Measures have
indirect effects and are a long term process.
To Create a
Balanced Agro-Ecosystem It is diversity which has the most
important role in building up ecological balance in agricultural land.
The elimination of disturbing factors is also very important. Methods include: Diverse cropping Mixed cropping, including scattered planting of insect repellent berbs and medicinal plants. Planting
perennial trees as a windbreak and to attract insect-eating birds. Non-use of agricultural chemicals.
To
Create a balanced soil ecosystem A balanced soil ecosystem (meaning
a balance in the micro-organism living in the soil) is the key
element in the health of plants. Almost all plant diseases come from
this imbalance, which is mainly created by a lack of organic matter and
the use of agricultural chemicals which kill micro-organisms.
Method to maintain this balance
include:- Crop rotation A regular supply of organic matter Avoid
mixing raw organic matter with soil. Non-use of agrochemicals
CONTROL
METHODS Hand
picking : catch the insects by hand and remove them. Light
trap : put a light above a container of water so that the insects are
attracted to the light and fall into the water. Net
cover to protect some crops from insect attack. Attracting
birds, other useful animals (reptiles, rodents and insects) that eat the
harmful insects. Natural
Pesticides There are many natural things that repel or kill insects. Common
natural pesticides includes:- The
plant materials are soaked for at least two night in water and then the
resulting "tea" is used as spray.
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