Integrated pest management of major vegetable crops: A review

Abstract

Eco-friendly tactics of pest management in vegetables have special significance not only for reduction in pesticide residues but also to maintain the natural enemy activity and making the production system more sustainable. These methods include suitable cultural practices or their alteration to reduce pest infestation and increase the natural enemy activity, adoption of biological control method either through conservation of natural enemies, mass release of natural enemies or application of microbial control agents, use of botanicals as insecticide against soft insects or both as insecticides and synergist with chemical insecticides against borer and leaf feeders, use of biorational methods particularly the integration of behavior modifying chemicals against lepidopteron and dipterans insects and finally need based use of safe insecticides with least persistence and low toxicity to natural enemies. Inclusion of insecticide can not be ruled out completely from ecofriendly practices rather safe insecticides can be tried exclusively or in low dosages in combination with botanicals, microbial or other integrated pest management tactics. Safety of chemicals also depends on the type of insect and natural enemies involved in particular growth stage of the plant and the mode of application.