Sustainable Crop Protection Strategies

Crop protection is a major sector of agriculture which attempts to reduce the losses due to insect pests, diseases, nematodes and weeds which are a major constraint in the production and productivity of economically important crops. Indiscriminate and injudicious use of chemical pesticides has caused harm to human health and environment. Therefore, ecologically safe option of integrated pest management (IPM) considered as a springboard to sustainable crop management is a present day necessity. This book uniquely combines all major subjects on sustainable crop protection and discusses pest management strategies for major crops of economic importance. Utilisation of parasites, predators, entomopathogens, pheromone technology, maintenance of diversity and sanitary & phytosanitary measures are the major features of this book. In all 38 chapters written by experts in their respective fields have been included. The authors have very ably outlined the issues and problems of plant protection and suggested right blend of improved technologies and effective management options that are being utilized in the present day sustainable crop protection scenario. This book is a timely exercise and likely to be received with interest by researchers, teachers, students, extension workers, master trainers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, farmers and others interested in sustainable crop management.