1

CROP PROTECTION
MANAGEMENT.
ONE OF THE MOST NECESSARY IN CROP YIELD IMPROVEMENT…
 2
Why the need to protect the crops?

 Field crops are infested by a large number of weeds , insect pests and diseases, which if
not controlled at the appropriate time can damage the crops so much that most of the
crop is lost.
 Crop protection is the science and practice of managing plant diseases, weeds and
other pests (both vertebrate and invertebrate)that damage agricultural crops and
forestry. Agricultural crops include field crops (maize, wheat, rice, etc.), vegetable crops
(potatoes, cabbages, etc.) and fruits. The crops in field are exposed to many factor. The
crop plants may be damaged by insects, birds, rodents, bacteria, etc. Crop protection
encompasses:
 Pesticide-based approaches such as herbicides, insecticides and fungicides
 Biological pest control approaches such as cover crops, trap crops and beetle banks
 Barrier-based approaches such as agrotextiles and bird netting
 Animal psychology-based approaches such as bird scarers
 Biotechnology-based approaches such as plant breeding and genetic modification
 3

WEEDS
 4
WEEDS

 Weeds are unwanted plants in the cultivated fields.

 Weeds tend to compete with the crops for food, space and light.
 Weeds may produce toxic substances which may interfere with crop growth.
 During harvesting, weeds get mixed up with crop to lower down its quality.
 The weeds spread crop pests and diseases by acting as alternate host to insects and
microorganisms.
 For example , Xanthium(gokhroo) , Parthenium(gajar ghas) , Cyperinus
rotundus(motha).
Methods of weed 5
control
1.Mechanical methods.:- these include
the methods such as uprooting , weeding
with trowel or khupi or harrow, hand
hoeing, interculture, ploughing, burning
and flooding.
The process of removing the weeds from
crop field is called weeding.
2. Cultural Methods :-They include the
methods such as proper bed preparation,
timely sowing of crops, intercropping and
crop rotation.
3. Chemical methods :-Chemical weed
killers called herbicides or weedicides, are
sprayed on weeds to destroy them. This is
called chemical control of weeds.
4. Biological control :-Biological control of
weeds involves the deliberate use of
insects or some other organisms which
consume and specifically destroy the
weed plants.
 6

INSECT PESTS
 7
Insect pests and their control

 Insects which destroy or damage crop plants are called insect pests. All crops are attacked by insect pests.

 Insect pests attack the plants in three ways:

1. They cut the root, stem and leaves (Chewing insects).

2. They suck the cell sap from various parts of the plants (Sucking insects).

3. They bore into the stem and fruits (Internal feeders).

 Preventive measures for insect pests:

• Clean cultivation

• Optimum time of sowing the crops

• Use of pest resistant varieties

• Crop rotation and multiple cropping

• Cultural practices
 8
CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS

 By using pesticides: The chemical used

to eliminate pests are called
pesticides. Pesticides include
insecticides (for killing the insects),
weeedicides (for killing the weeds),
rodenticides (for killing rats), and
fungicides (for killing the fungi).

 By using natural insecticides: Like

neem, nicotine, pyrethrum, etc.
 9

STORAGE
OF
GRAINS
 10
Storage Of Grains…

 Most crops are harvested only once a year.

Thus, they are available in plenty during a
selective time. For getting seasonal foods
regularly throughout the year, they are stored in
safe storage. During storage, grains and seeds
are subjected to spoilage and wastage by
various means. This loss has been estimated to
be 9.3% annually.
 11
Factors affecting stored food

There are two main factors responsible for losses during

storage. These are:

 Biotic factors: The living organisms which influence the

stored grains are called biotic factors. These are insects,
rodents (e.g., house rat, house mouse, etc.), birds (e.g.,
sparrow, bulbul, crow etc.), mites and bacteria.
 Abiotic factors: The non-living environmental factors are
called abiotic factors. These are moisture contents,
humidity of air, improper temperature etc.
 These factors causes degradation in quality, loss in weight,
poor germinability, discolouration of produce, poor
marketability and economic loss.
 12
Preventive and control measures to be
used before storage of food grains

 Drying: The harvested food grains should be dried by spreading them over plastic sheets or on
cemented floor. All the sun dried food grains are allowed to cool to the room temperature
before storing them.
 Cleaning and maintenance of hygiene: The grains and other agriculture produce should be
properly cleaned before their storage. They should be filled in new gunny bags before keeping
in godowns, warehouses or stores. The bags should be absolutely dry and clean. They should be
free from dirt, webbing.
 Safe and proper storage: Godown, warehouses and stores should be properly cleaned, dries
and repaired.
 Fumigation: Those pesticides which can destroy insects by forming toxic fumes are called
fumigants and process of their use is called fumigation. Fumigants may be solid, liquid or
gaseous. Examples:
 Aluminium phosphate (solid fumigant)
 Ethylene dichloride-carbon tetrachloride (EDCT) (liquid fumigant)
 Methyl bromide (gaseous fumigant)
 13

PLANT
DISEASES
 14
WHAT ARE PLANT DISEASES

 Plant disease, an impairment of the normal state of a plant that

interrupts or modifies its vital functions. All species of plants, wild
and cultivated alike, are subject to disease.
 The occurrence and prevalence of plant diseases vary from season to
season, depending on the presence of the pathogen, environmental
conditions, and the crops and varieties grown.
 Some plant varieties are particularly subject to outbreaks of diseases
while others are more resistant to them.
 Plant pathogens can be fungal, bacterial, viral or nematodes and can
damage plant parts above or below the ground. Identifying symptoms
and knowing when and how to effectively control diseases is an
ongoing challenge for all farmers.
 15
Some plant diseases in general…

 aster yellows.
 bacterial wilt.
 blight. fire blight. rice bacterial blight.
 canker.
 crown gall.
 rot. basal rot.
 scab.
16
 THANK
17

YOU
MADE BY – ATHARAV SONAWANE