Greenhouse Gases and IPM

Insects and diseases are a major challenge to greenhouse production. IPM is an important tool in the management of these pests. The primary goal of IPM is to optimize pest control in an economically and ecologically sound way. IPM involves the integration of cultural, physical, biological, and chemical practices to grow crops with minimal use of pesticides. Monitoring, sampling, and record keeping are used to determine when control options are needed to keep pests below an economically damaging threshold. Pest management, not eradication, is the goal of IPM. Integrated pest management (IPM), also known as integrated pest control (IPC) is a broad-based approach that integrates practices for economic control of pests. IPM aims to suppress pest populations below the economic injury level (EIL). A regular monitoring program is the basis of IPM decision making, regardless of the control strategies used. By regular monitoring, a scout is able to gather current information on the identity and location of pest problems and to evaluate treatment effectiveness. This is a reference book which attempts to provide postgraduate and professional readers already familiar with the subject with a means to acquire deeper knowledge on integrated control of pests and diseases in greenhouse crops and furthermore suggest possible roads to take in future tasks. Another decisive stimulant for this endeavor was the realization of the growing need to incorporate integrated systems of protection from arthropod pests and diseases for the thousands of hectares of protected crops in the world. The fruit, vegetable, and ornamental plant markets and the technical and economic efficiency of crop protection require these integrated control systems. The book adopts multidisciplinary approach in addressing both basic and applied aspects of integrated pest management in greenhouse crops.