There are different crop protection strategies, tools and products. In addition, the industry is constantly evolving, offering farmers increasingly effective pest control methods. The choice depends on the cultivated area. Here are the most popular cultural protection techniques. There are many organisms in the agricultural ecosystem that can harm plants. They slow down the development of plants, reduce their thickness and generally affect yields. Timely preventive measures minimize dangers. In addition, the importance of crop protection in agriculture lies in preserving the biodiversity and nutrients of the land, optimizing the resources used such as water, land and labor, and thus increasing the quality and reducing food costs. The introduction of effective cultivation methods requires an appropriate phytosanitary strategy and training of farmers. For example, they need to know how to treat seeds and prepare fields for planting.
Mechanical crop protection controls help farmers physically eliminate pests. These include barriers that prevent insects and animals from entering the field, traps, mulching and steam sterilization practices. Plant protection also contributes to maintaining plant quality by protecting against health risks posed by plant diseases, pests and insects. Phytosanitary measures have a significant influence on agricultural production worldwide. Since the Green Revolution, weeds have been one of the biggest obstacles to agricultural production. With the modernization of agriculture, old weed control practices are no longer viable. For example, the use of herbicides has ensured global food security by reducing crop losses. In addition, the use of herbicides continues to increase to meet the food needs of the world`s ever-growing population.
In addition to increasing production through better weed control, increased herbicide adaptation involves its rapid action, easy availability, reduced weed control problems, and replacement of traditional weed control practices. However, repeated and indiscriminate chemical use of herbicides results in phytotoxicity, adverse environmental effects, adverse effects on non-target organisms and health risks. It also poses residual problems for subsequent crops and affects the food chain. The harmful effects of herbicides on the environment pose a major threat to the sustainability of agriculture. An excessive amount of herbicides can be very harmful to the different stages of crop growth and development and cause remarkable damage by inhibiting growth, disrupting physiological processes and ultimately reducing plant quality and yield. Land and water damage is due to the harmful effects of these chemicals. In addition, improper and careless handling and excessive exposure to toxic herbicides have led to acute poisoning with serious health risks. Another area of concern today is the development of herbicide-resistant genetically modified plants and, consequently, the development of herbicide-resistant weeds. However, many studies suggest exploring integrated weed management practices to delay herbicide-resistant weed problems.
Additional efforts should be made to develop multiple herbicide-resistant plants to respond appropriately to herbicide-resistant weeds. However, to make agriculture more sustainable and productive, the best combination of agricultural practices with available technologies and crop diversification is inevitable. Recently, various research has shown that the use of bioherbicides can be a good option to reduce our dependence on synthetic chemical herbicides and reduce pollution and health risks by maintaining the balance of ecosystems. Many researchers are now working at the molecular level to transfer herbicide-resistant genes and develop transgenic plants. Therefore, intensive research is needed to understand the harmful mechanism of herbicides. Appropriate scientific weed research focusing on biology, genetics, mode of action and interaction with the evolution of weed resistance should be investigated. Appropriate education and training programmes should be promoted to help farmers better understand weed control, practice integrated weed management and use technologies to mitigate the harmful effects of herbicides. Crop rotation is one of the most valuable and versatile methods of plant protection. However, not all cultures tolerate the same practice of practice. For example, corn can be planted exactly on site for five years. On the other hand, rye, wheat and sugar beet react negatively to dual crops, but can achieve higher yields with proper rotation. That is why farmers sometimes use a six-field system, not even a three-field system.
EOSDA Crop Monitoring makes it easy to track crop rotation by providing data on the order in which crops are grown in specific areas. Here we will talk about crop protection management. Grown grain must be stored safely to avoid product loss. The probability of grain loss during this period is much higher than before cultivation. Therefore, the methods of protection must be better. Common pests and rodents and certain environmental conditions such as humidity and temperature are the factors responsible for the loss. Certain precautions help us prevent this loss. Before storing grains, it should be thoroughly cleaned and dried in sunlight, as it helps protect plants from fungal growth caused by the presence of moisture. Pests could also be killed by a method called fumigation.
Perennial crops also provide habitat for insects that feed and damage the plant itself. Crops grown for monetary purposes are called cash crops. Commercial crops include sunflower, peanuts, mustard, olives, coconut, coffee, tea, gum, etc. Insecticides are pesticides used to kill insects that interfere with plant growth. They are inherently toxic chemical agents formulated solely for the purpose of repelling, injuring or killing one or more species of insects. Crop protection solutions use AI to collect and analyze large amounts of data. It provides farmers with detailed crop and soil conditions for crop protection planning. EOSDA Crop Monitoring is an excellent example of the usefulness of remote sensing for crop protection. The platform effectively takes care of soil health and reduces the risk of plant diseases and pests.