Book Reviews

Conjugation of δ‐endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis with abamectin, a toxin of Streptomyces avermitilis, was carried out to form a new type of biocide, GCSC‐BtA based on “Germany‐China Scientific Cooperation” research, for the control of agricultural insect pests. The strategy for biochemical linkage was designed by conjugating an amino group in B.t. protoxin with a carboxyl group in carboxylated abamectin under the treatment of conjugator EDC [1‐Ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl carbodiimide Hydrochloride)]. The formation of B.t. protoxin was processed by solubilizing B.t. crystal in 25 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) at 37 °C for 2 h. The carboxylated abamectin was formed by carboxylating the NaH‐activated abamectin with 10 mg/ml butyric anhydride at 111 °C in a water‐circumfluent condensation device for 2 h. The conjugating reaction, consisting of 5 mg/ml B.t. protoxin, 10 mg/ml carboxylated abamectin and 19.17 mg/ml EDC, was successfully conducted at room temperature for 24 h. Significant differences were found between pure abamectin, carboxylated abamectin and the conjugated BtA by means of UV‐photo absorptions recorded at wavelengths 354, 438, 518, 600 nm (P < 0.01). LT50 of the conjugated GCSC‐BtA to the 3rd instar larvae of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep., Plutellidae) was 35.27 μg a.i./ml, about 62 % and 76 % of that caused by the B.t. protoxin and the caxboxylated abamectin, respectively. The conjugated GCSC‐BtA caused 87.14 % mortalities in larvae of P. xylostella, 93.75 % in adult Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hom., Aphididae) and 89.33 % in adult Phyllotreta vittata Fabricius (Col., Chrysomelidae) as compared to 48.33 % by the B.t. crystal only in P. xylostella. The symptoms caused by conjugated GCSC‐BtA in the 3rd instar of P. xylostella were black color in the head part and white‐yellow in the abdomen of dead larvae, which differed from the black color or the white‐yellow all along the body caused by either the B.t. crystal or the abamectin, respectively. It was concluded that the conjugated GCSC‐BtA biocide had a broader host spectrum and a faster killing speed than either the B.t. crystal or abamectin alone for the control of agricultural pests.

Fly ash, one of the numerous substances that causes air, water and soil pollution, has been discovered as a pesticide against various pest forms that hamper agriculture and an active carrier in chemical pesticides (dust, wettable powder, granules and capsules) and herbal insecticides (dust) formulations. Insecticidal action of the fly ash dust was detected for the first time in the country on various kinds of insect pests inflicting crops like rice, vegetables, oilseeds, pulses, greens, fruit trees, besides pests of grains in storage yards too. Mode of action of fly ash dust on insect forms was characterised based on its physical and internal damage both on the insect bodies and crop plants. Interestingly, fly ash on application to rice soils had promoted resistance to the plant to thwart pests attack. Nano-fly ash of two fractions of size ranging down 50 µm was detected to be highly potential in killing the pests. Four chemical insecticides, viz. BHC 10% Dust, BHC 50% WDP, Malathion 25% WDP and Carbofuran 3% WDG, were synthesized with the two selected lignite fly ash fractions. All of them faired best in killing various pest’s species in rice compared to the respective chemical insecticides. It is felt that use of fly ash as a carrier in the synthesis of chemical and herbal pesticides may replace with long run the conventional carriers like Calcite, Magnesite for eventual decline in the cost, and hence, will be a breakthrough in the pesticide industry. As an attempt to exploit particle, morphology and mineralogical contents of fly ash of two sizes ranging from among 10 to 50 μm were selected for their increased pesticidal action. SEM studies carried to have a close-up view of the individual particle of the lignite fly ash and coal fly ashes revealed that they were mostly of nanoparticle types. Secondly, morphometric features of the lignite fly ash nanoparticles were of spherical shape containing mostly of silica as silicon di oxide (SiO2) and showed two forms, namely amorphous which is rounded and smooth and crystalline which is sharp and pointed. These differently sized particles of fly ash are best suited to adhere to the body skin of the insects having dense cover of structures like fine hairs, scales, spine-like processes, nodules, pustules, ventricles. Further, such fly ash particles when delivered in the field through dusters cling firmly to the plants and the bodies of insects and per cent deposition was high. Mineral contents of the fly ash revealed the presence of Silica, Alumina, Calcium, Ferric Oxide and traces of Zn, Pb, Zr, Sr, S, Th, Cu, Mn, etc. Among these, silica has been observed to strengthen the pesticide property of fly ash followed by Al, Ca, Fe and sulphur. From the above, it is inferred that such nano-fly ash particle technology has great scope in pest control in agriculture and allied arenas of farm folks through promoting organic agriculture tactics.

Organic Farming, Soil Health, and Food Quality: Considering Possible Links

CM-UTH 1424, a New Insecticide for the Control of Flies and Agricultural Insect Pests

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, and predictive analytics is revolutionizing pest management strategies in agriculture. This chapter explores the integration of these cutting-edge technologies to develop intelligent, data-driven systems for pest detection, monitoring, and control. AI-powered computer vision systems, combined with IoT sensors and machine learning models, enable real-time monitoring of pest populations and environmental conditions, significantly improving the accuracy and efficiency of pest control interventions. Predictive analytics, leveraging historical and real-time data, further enhances these systems by forecasting pest outbreaks, allowing for proactive and targeted pest management. The chapter examines various real-world applications, including precision pest control in large-scale agriculture, greenhouses, vineyards, and field crops, where these integrated systems have successfully minimized chemical use, reduced environmental impact, and optimized resource allocation. Additionally, the challenges of scaling IoT sensor networks and the complexities of system integration are discussed, alongside potential solutions for widespread adoption. The future of pest management lies in the seamless fusion of AI, IoT, and predictive analytics, offering a sustainable, autonomous, and precision-driven approach to pest control. This chapter provides valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to enhance pest management strategies in modern agriculture.

The rapid proliferation of agricultural applications (apps) in China’s digital village initiative necessitates systematic evaluation of their functionality and accessibility. Regarding the agricultural pest control apps that can be searched in the Chinese market, this study collected and analyzed information using 18 variables, involving developers, languages, application systems, identified objects and functions. There were 158 apps that met the 11 mandatory features, and most of the applications were developed for Android and iOS systems. The functions, accuracy, response time and goals of agricultural apps are all important factors affecting the download and application of agricultural apps. Identification apps are in the initial stage, while comprehensive application apps are gradually increasing. Regional or National, even of crop-specific pest management apps are becoming mainstream. Case studies of prominent Chinese apps provide critical services such as disease diagnosis, pest control recommendations, and farm management solutions, leading to quantifiable benefits including reduced pesticide use, decreased crop losses, and increased farmer income in China. Agricultural applications accessible via smartphones have great potential in preventing crop losses and reducing pesticide use. The development of agricultural pest and disease control applications still has a long way to go, including precise assessment and potential risks during the implementation process. There is no doubt that against the backdrop of the continuous growth of the global population, these applications will facilitate the digital prevention and control of agricultural pests.

One of the key challenges in the management of pest control in citrus production is ensuring the infestation samples collected in the field are processed in an efficient, effective manner to produce representative digital models that will support the decision-making process associated with planning and monitoring the application of pest control measures. This paper describes a research project that focuses on applying mining and geological tools for pest control in agriculture. Such tools have been successfully used in a pilot-project application for pest control planning and management of different citrus varieties. The pilot-project has been carried out in partnership with a major citrus producer in Brazil. The results indicated a significant improvement in the pest-control decision-making processes, with a significant reduction in the total areas for pest control application, including more than 68% reduction for the P. oleivora pest and over 92% reduction for the P. latus pest. The evaluation of the pilot-project results indicates that the citrus industry would benefit considerably in terms of reducing both operational costs and the impact of the pest control processes on the environment.

Annually, the cost of insect pest control in agriculture crosses billions of dollars around the world. Until recently, broad-spectrum synthetic pesticides were considered as the most effective means of pest control in agriculture. However, over the years, the overreliance on pesticides has caused adverse effects on beneficial insects, human health and the environment, and has led to the development of pesticide resistant insects. There is a critical need for the development of alternative pest management strategies aiming for minimum use of pesticides and conservation of natural enemies for maintaining the ecological balance of the environment. Host plant resistance plays a vital role in integrated pest management but the development of insect-resistant varieties through conventional ways of host plant resistance takes time, and is challenging as it involves many quantitative traits positioned at various loci. Biotechnological approaches such as gene editing, gene transformation, marker-assisted selection etc. in this direction have recently opened up a new era of insect control options. These could contribute towards about exploring a much wider array of novel insecticidal genes that would otherwise be beyond the scope of conventional breeding. Biotechnological interventions can alter the gene expression level and pattern as well as the development of transgenic varieties with insecticidal genes and can improve pest management by providing access to novel molecules. This review will discuss the emerging biotechnological tools available to develop insect-resistant engineered crop genotypes with a better ability to resist the attack of insect pests.

Developing GM insects for sustainable pest control in agriculture and human health

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) represents a paradigm shift in pest control, moving away from heavy reliance on chemical pesticides to a more sustainable, environmentally friendly approach. This article explores IPM, an ecosystem based strategy that integrates biological, ecological, and agricultural sciences to achieve longterm pest control in agriculture. IPM emphasizes understanding pest life cycles and their interaction with the environment, utilizing a combination of techniques including biological control, cultural practices, mechanical and physical barriers, and targeted chemical interventions. Regular monitoring and informed decision making form the crux of this approach, focusing on economically viable and environmentally responsible pest control methods. The article highlights various success stories, the challenges faced in implementing IPM, and future directions including the incorporation of precision agriculture technologies and genetic advancements. Overall, IPM emerges as a crucial element in sustainable agriculture, promising to maintain ecological balance while ensuring effective pest management and provides an in depth examination of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a multifaceted approach to sustainable pest control that synergizes biology, ecology, and agricultural science. IPM represents a paradigm shift from traditional, chemically intensive pest control methods to a more holistic, environmentally conscious framework. The core of IPM lies in understanding the life cycles and ecological interactions of pests, employing a diverse array of strategies including biological control through natural predators, cultural practices like crop rotation, mechanical and physical barriers, and judicious use of chemical pesticides. The article underscores the importance of regular monitoring and decision making based on established thresholds to maintain an effective, economically viable, and ecologically responsible pest management system. Case studies highlighting the successful implementation of IPM in various agricultural settings are discussed, alongside the challenges and prospects of IPM, particularly in the context of climate change and technological advancements. The article concludes that IPM is not only essential for sustainable pest control but also pivotal in ensuring long term agricultural productivity and environmental health.

If the importance of wildlife in agricultural pest control through predation can be conveyed, it can play an important role in the conservation of wildlife. However, such a strategy needs to be backed with convincing data. We studied the habitat preference, diet and reproductive behavior of the Indian Eagle Owl (IEO) Bubo bengalensis in order to understand its role in agricultural pest control. The Owls preferred landscapes with a higher percentage of agriculture and fed on rodents, birds, reptiles, arachnids, insects and other prey species. Despite being a generalist feeder, its diet was dominated by agricultural pests, which contributed 88% of the total prey biomass. Out of the 13 rodent prey species, which comprised a major part of the diet, seven were identified as major agricultural pests and were 98% of the total rodent biomass in the diet of the IEO. The dependence of the IEO on rodent pests was further reflected by positive correlation between rodent biomass consumed and the breeding success of the owl. The IEO, therefore, plays a positive role in the biological control of crop pests. However, owls spent a longer duration of time in agricultural habitats, where they also had higher productivity. Thus IEO may be subjected to anthropogenic activities, human contact and interference. Since this owl is still hunted due to superstitious beliefs, scientific evidence elucidating the importance of the IEO in agricultural pest control can be used for its conservation by educating the farming community.

In the process of slag area in hydropower projects, the ground will be disturbed strongly, and a large amount of spoil slag will be generated, resulting in serious soil erosion. Therefore, the monitoring of soil and water conservation in the slag area of hydropower projects is particularly important. Tradition al ground monitoring cannot fully meet the needs of current monitoring work. UAV technology is more efficient than traditional technology,. Through periodic aerial photography and post-modeling, combining with ArcGIS, provides enhanced data analysis support for UAV data analysis. Taking the 1# slag yard of a hydropower station in Dadu River as an example, this paper discusses the applicability of UAV and ArcGIS technology in soil and water conservation monitoring of large hydropower project slag area. The effective way of maintaining information, while improving the monitoring efficiency of soil and water conservation, can ensure that the monitoring data and the Soil erosion error control are within 10%, making up for the traditional technical ways that is insufficient in the monitoring of soil and water conservation in the large-scale hydropower project slag yard.In recent years, the state has paid more and more attention to the construction of ecological civilization. As an important part of ecological civilization construction, soil and water conservation work has become more and more important. As an important part of soil and water conservation work, soil and water conservation monitoring is the basis for ecological restoration and comprehensive management of soil and water conservation, and is a powerful guarantee for national ecological construction decision-making [1]. In recent years, the application of remote sensing technology for UAVs is for production and construction. The project of soil and water conservation monitoring work provides a new technical way [2-4]. UAV operation has high automation and precision, and it is targeted. Some models have reached the application-level standards, and with the rapid progress of software and hardware technology, it is greatly improving the post-processing applicability of aerial image data, making drones widely used in aerial photography, agriculture, plant protection and monitoring. Torres-Sánchez et al [5], Francisco et al [6] use low-altitude high-resolution drone remote sensing imagery to carry out on precision agriculture and agricultural pest control. Mitch Bryson et al. [7] used low-altitude visible drone images to study vegetation type classification based on vegetation color and texture characteristics. Sebastian d’Oleire—Oltmanns et al. [8] used high-altitude drone aerial imagery to complete the monitoring of soil erosion in Morocco, providing a reference for soil and water.

Reports that the number of new social safety net programs launched has increased in Africa over the last decade, and every African country has established at least one social safety net program. Program design varies across the region, with the most common programs focused on cash transfers, public works, or school feeding. Evolving designs feature more use of cash, programs designed to respond to climate change, a concentration on productive capacity and resilience, and programs promoting human capital development. Among all programs, 29 percent directly target children through nutrition interventions, benefits aimed at orphans and other vulnerable children, school feeding programs, provision of school supplies, and education benefits or fee waivers; 31 percent target households more broadly; and some programs can achieve gender-relevant impacts if they are thoughtfully designed with this aim. Although programs have been expanded, most of the poor in Africa are still not covered by social safety nets.

Simple-but-sound methods for estimating the value of changes in biodiversity for biological pest control in agriculture

ABSTRACTEven though there have been many actions to limit chlorinated hydrocarbons used to control insects, many significant environmental problems connected with agricultural pest control remain. To deal with environmental effects in pest control strategy requires economic evaluation even though there are analytical difficulties. Environmental effects of pest control methods can be given economic meaning through the use of implied values measured in terms of sacrifices of conventional benefits. Where the biological significance of damages from pest control methods is known, the problem is to evaluate the differences in net benefits for alternative strategies. However, for those damages which involve uncertainty some sort of hazard‐benefit analysis is needed with the ultimate decision made by persons responsible to society for value judgements. More co‐operation is needed by economists and pest control experts to provide the best information possible within the limits of their professional expertise including analyzing pest control methods in the time dimension. High quality scientific analysis reduces the uncertainty for political decisions.