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5.6 Pest Control Methods

3 min readjanuary 4, 2023

M

Mark Little

M

Mark Little

https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/01/03/16/49/herbicide-587589_960_720.jpg

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Pesticide is a spray or chemical used on crops to allow better protection against species harmful to the crops. Their use has many pros and cons when discussing their usage on commercial produce and other agricultural crops.

Pros:

  • effectively eliminate pests from crops, which increases food security and ensures a healthy and consistent food supply.

  • Malaria and Lyme disease, among others, are protected against since pests that carry them are no longer able to transmit them to humans.

  • They can be used against parasitic or invasive species to better protect needed species and plants.

Cons:

  • They are very toxic to species not meant to be targeted (birds, bees, mammals, aquatic species).

  • They cause high levels of contamination through soil and runoff, which can lead to .

  • have been known to cause cancer, birth defects, and other neurological problems due to their potency.

  • They can be expensive to use, especially in abundance, and pests will develop tolerances which drives up usage and its associated cost.

It's important to carefully consider the potential risks and benefits of using and to use them responsibly to minimize negative impacts.

 

Any substances used to “control” different types of pests. These “pests” include plants and animals. Four common types of include herbicides, fungicides, and .  

Herbicide

Herbicides are specifically targeted towards vegetation, like grasses or weeds. They can be either selective or non-selective, meaning that they can be selectively used to target one species or otherwise used to kill all present growing plants. A recent development in herbicide usage revealed that Roundup, a popular pesticide brand, was being linked to higher rates of cancer due to the presence of in their product.

Fungicides 

A fungicide is a type of pesticide that is used to control fungal infections. Fungicides can be applied to plants, seeds, or soil to prevent or treat fungal diseases. They work by disrupting the growth or reproduction of fungi or by preventing the fungi from entering or colonizing the treated plant.

A rodenticide is a type of pesticide that is specifically designed to kill rodents, such as mice and rats. come in various formulations, including baits, pastes, and traps, and they work by poisoning the rodents through ingestion or inhalation. are often used in agriculture to control rodent pests that can damage crops, but they can also be used in urban and residential areas to control rodent populations and prevent damage to buildings and other structures.

These are that kill insects. Different types of can be used to repel insects and be tracked back to their nest, like an ant. These chemicals often kill organisms indiscriminately and end up killing ‘good’ insects accidentally. Bee populations are in collapse globally due to exposure to

https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/05/20/09/10/bee-3415321_960_720.jpg

Image courtesy of Pixabay

🎥 Watch: Ap Environmental Science - Agricultural Practices III

Key Terms to Review (7)

Bioaccumulation

: Bioaccumulation refers to the process by which toxins or pollutants build up in the tissues of an organism over time, often at a rate faster than they can be eliminated. This can occur through ingestion, absorption, or inhalation of these substances.

Eutrophication

: Eutrophication is the excessive growth of algae and other plants due to an increase in nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) in a body of water, leading to harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems.

Glyphosate

: Glyphosate is a widely-used herbicide that kills most types of plants by inhibiting an enzyme essential for their growth. It is commonly found in products like Roundup and is used in agriculture, landscaping, and home gardening.

Insecticides

: Insecticides are chemical substances used to kill or control insects that may cause harm or damage crops, livestock, or human health.

Leaching

: Leaching refers to the process in which water-soluble substances, such as minerals or pollutants, are washed away or dissolved and carried downward through soil layers by percolating water.

Pesticides

: Pesticides are chemical substances used to kill or control pests such as insects, weeds, and fungi. They are commonly used in agriculture to protect crops from damage but can also have negative impacts on human health and the environment.

Rodenticides

: Rodenticides are chemical substances used to kill or control rodents, such as rats and mice. They are typically formulated as baits or poisons that are attractive to rodents but toxic when ingested.

5.6 Pest Control Methods

3 min readjanuary 4, 2023

M

Mark Little

M

Mark Little

https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/01/03/16/49/herbicide-587589_960_720.jpg

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Pesticide is a spray or chemical used on crops to allow better protection against species harmful to the crops. Their use has many pros and cons when discussing their usage on commercial produce and other agricultural crops.

Pros:

  • effectively eliminate pests from crops, which increases food security and ensures a healthy and consistent food supply.

  • Malaria and Lyme disease, among others, are protected against since pests that carry them are no longer able to transmit them to humans.

  • They can be used against parasitic or invasive species to better protect needed species and plants.

Cons:

  • They are very toxic to species not meant to be targeted (birds, bees, mammals, aquatic species).

  • They cause high levels of contamination through soil and runoff, which can lead to .

  • have been known to cause cancer, birth defects, and other neurological problems due to their potency.

  • They can be expensive to use, especially in abundance, and pests will develop tolerances which drives up usage and its associated cost.

It's important to carefully consider the potential risks and benefits of using and to use them responsibly to minimize negative impacts.

 

Any substances used to “control” different types of pests. These “pests” include plants and animals. Four common types of include herbicides, fungicides, and .  

Herbicide

Herbicides are specifically targeted towards vegetation, like grasses or weeds. They can be either selective or non-selective, meaning that they can be selectively used to target one species or otherwise used to kill all present growing plants. A recent development in herbicide usage revealed that Roundup, a popular pesticide brand, was being linked to higher rates of cancer due to the presence of in their product.

Fungicides 

A fungicide is a type of pesticide that is used to control fungal infections. Fungicides can be applied to plants, seeds, or soil to prevent or treat fungal diseases. They work by disrupting the growth or reproduction of fungi or by preventing the fungi from entering or colonizing the treated plant.

A rodenticide is a type of pesticide that is specifically designed to kill rodents, such as mice and rats. come in various formulations, including baits, pastes, and traps, and they work by poisoning the rodents through ingestion or inhalation. are often used in agriculture to control rodent pests that can damage crops, but they can also be used in urban and residential areas to control rodent populations and prevent damage to buildings and other structures.

These are that kill insects. Different types of can be used to repel insects and be tracked back to their nest, like an ant. These chemicals often kill organisms indiscriminately and end up killing ‘good’ insects accidentally. Bee populations are in collapse globally due to exposure to

https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/05/20/09/10/bee-3415321_960_720.jpg

Image courtesy of Pixabay

🎥 Watch: Ap Environmental Science - Agricultural Practices III

Key Terms to Review (7)

Bioaccumulation

: Bioaccumulation refers to the process by which toxins or pollutants build up in the tissues of an organism over time, often at a rate faster than they can be eliminated. This can occur through ingestion, absorption, or inhalation of these substances.

Eutrophication

: Eutrophication is the excessive growth of algae and other plants due to an increase in nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) in a body of water, leading to harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems.

Glyphosate

: Glyphosate is a widely-used herbicide that kills most types of plants by inhibiting an enzyme essential for their growth. It is commonly found in products like Roundup and is used in agriculture, landscaping, and home gardening.

Insecticides

: Insecticides are chemical substances used to kill or control insects that may cause harm or damage crops, livestock, or human health.

Leaching

: Leaching refers to the process in which water-soluble substances, such as minerals or pollutants, are washed away or dissolved and carried downward through soil layers by percolating water.

Pesticides

: Pesticides are chemical substances used to kill or control pests such as insects, weeds, and fungi. They are commonly used in agriculture to protect crops from damage but can also have negative impacts on human health and the environment.

Rodenticides

: Rodenticides are chemical substances used to kill or control rodents, such as rats and mice. They are typically formulated as baits or poisons that are attractive to rodents but toxic when ingested.


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.