Is an Ecological Understanding a Prerequisite for Pest Management?

Abstract

Integrated pest management (IPM) is the current paradigm for dealing with pests; thus, it is prudent to inquire whether IPM will have a higher probability of long term success than other approaches which have failed. This paper is an attempt to compare the principles of IPM to the current control practices and to examine management approaches in two cropping systems. Primary objectives are to show that agriculturists are far from implementing programs that will solve pest problems and that such solutions will arise only from an ecologically sound foundation.