Farmers use insecticides to keep bugs away from crops. These chemical solutions combat a wide variety of insect pests that can damage crops and reduce yields. Here are a few ways farmers use insecticides to protect their crops:
Overall, insecticides play an important role in helping farmers protect their crops and achieve maximum yields. However, it is important to use them responsibly to avoid negative impacts on the environment and non-target species.
What Do Farmers Use to Keep Bugs Away?
Understanding the use of insecticides in farming
Insecticides are chemicals that farmers use to combat insects that cause damage to their crops. These chemicals work by attacking the nervous system of the pest, creating a paralysis that leads to death. Aside from being a valuable tool in controlling pests, insecticides also help farmers maintain the quality, health, and yield of their crops. Insecticides are essential in modern-day agriculture, as pests continue to adapt to different environments and become resistant to some insecticides.
Insecticides are classified according to their target pest, application method, and mode of action. This classification system allows farmers to select the most appropriate insecticide for a specific pest, which minimizes environmental contamination and reduces the risk of developing insecticide-resistant pests.
Different types of insecticides for different pests
Farmers use a variety of insecticides to combat different pests that threaten their crops. Some insecticides are integrated into the soil, while others are applied directly to the plant’s foliage. Here are some examples of insecticides and their uses:
- Organophosphates: Works by disrupting the nervous system of the pest, and are commonly used in crop and livestock farming.
- Carbamates: Have the same mode of action as organophosphates but are less toxic to mammals and other vertebrates.
- Pyrethroids: Derived from chrysanthemum flowers and are highly effective against aphids, moths, and other flying insects.
- Biopesticides: Made from natural ingredients such as fungus, bacteria and neem trees and are non-toxic to humans and the environment.
How insecticides are applied in farming
Farmers apply insecticides in different ways depending on the type of crop and the pest to be controlled. Here are some common methods of applying insecticides:
- Foliar spraying: This involves spraying insecticides directly onto the plant’s foliage.
- Seed treatment: This method involves applying insecticides to seeds before planting to control soil-dwelling pests.
- Soil drenching: This involves drenching the soil around the plant with insecticides to control pests that live in the soil.
- Fumigation: This method involves using insecticides in a gaseous form to control pests in a sealed environment.
Pros and cons of using insecticides in agriculture
Using insecticides in agriculture comes with several advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of them:
Advantages:
- Helps control and eliminate pests, leading to increased crop yields and improved quality of produce.
- Can be an affordable and effective way to control pests.
- Improves food security and availability by reducing crop losses to pests.
Disadvantages:
- Can be toxic to humans and the environment, including wildlife and beneficial insects such as bees.
- May lead to the development of insecticide-resistant pests.
- May compromise soil health, reducing the fertility and microbial activity of soil.
Common insecticides used in farming
There are several insecticides used in farming, and here are some common brand names:
- Syngenta – Actara, Force
- Bayer CropScience – Confidor, Gaucho
- Dow AgroSciences – Lorsban, Cobalt
- BASF – Mocap, Temik
- ChemChina – Adama, Makhteshim Agan (MAI)
Environmental impact of using insecticides in agriculture
The use of insecticides in agriculture can lead to environmental problems, including contamination of soil, water, and air. When sprayed or applied excessively, these chemicals can find their way to non-target organisms, such as aquatic animals and beneficial insects like bees. Prolonged exposure to insecticides can lead to the development of resistance among pests, which renders the insecticide ineffective against that pest.
Alternative methods for pest control in farming
While insecticides are often the go-to method of controlling pests in farming, there are other alternative methods of pest control that farmers can adopt. These methods include:
- Biological controls: The introduction of predators or parasites that prey on pests in your fields
- Crop rotation: The practice of growing a different crop in the same field for two or three years, which reduces pest populations
- Integrated Pest Management(IPM): This combines multiple pest control strategies, including cultural, biological and chemical methods, and is currently being widely used across farms.
In conclusion, insecticides are essential in modern-day agriculture to control pests that damage crops. There are different types of insecticides available, and they are applied in various ways to control different pests. While the use of insecticides has its advantages, it also has its disadvantages that need to be considered. The development and implementation of alternative methods can reduce the reliance on insecticides, minimizing the risk of environmental contamination while still protecting crops.
