Synergistic effects of agronomic practices and insect pest management on crop yield

Abstract

Agricultural productivity is strongly influenced by agronomic management and insect pest control strategies. In developing countries such as India, crop yield losses due to insect pests range from 20 to 40 percent, while inappropriate agronomic practices further aggravate pest incidence and reduce productivity. Traditionally, agronomy and pest management have been addressed separately; however, recent research emphasizes their synergistic role in enhancing crop yield, profitability, and environmental sustainability. This review synthesizes secondary data from peer-reviewed journals, institutional publications, and research reports to evaluate the combined impact of agronomic practices and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) on crop production. The findings indicate that agronomic practices such as crop rotation, optimum sowing time, proper spacing, balanced fertilization, and irrigation management can reduce pest incidence by 15–40% while improving yield by 8–22%. Adoption of IPM further reduces pesticide use by 45–60%, lowers pest populations by 40–55%, and increases crop yield by 15–25%. When agronomic practices are integrated with IPM, crop yield increases by 15–40%, cost of cultivation decreases by 10–20%, and farmer income improves by 25–45%. In addition, the integrated approach significantly reduces pesticide residues, enhances beneficial insect populations, improves soil organic carbon, and minimizes environmental contamination. The review concludes that the synergistic integration of agronomic practices and insect pest management is essential for sustainable, climate-resilient, and economically viable agriculture. Strengthening agronomy–IPM integration through research, extension, and policy support is crucial for ensuring long-term food security and environmental protection.