Development and implementation of cost‐effective plant protection technology using decision‐support systems in Lithuania*

In many European countries, factors important for decision‐making in plant protection, such as biology, weather and environmental conditions, crop management level and their relationships, have been incorporated into decision‐support systems (DSSs). In 1996, a project was jointly elaborated, and research was started by the Danish Institute of Plant and Soil Science, the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture and the Lithuanian and Danish Agricultural Advisory Services. This research was focused on the testing, development and adaptation of a Danish computer‐based decision‐support and information system (PC‐Plant Protection) for plant protection under Lithuanian conditions. Trials were carried out by the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture in 1996/1998 to investigate the potential for reducing fungicide inputs in cereal production in different regions of Lithuania representing typical local agrometeorological conditions. On the basis of the trials, the following conclusions were drawn: the reduced doses and fungicide combinations recommended by the DSS gave rather good control of diseases; spraying according to the recommendations of the DSS increased yield significantly in all experiments and allowed saving in fungicides; some models, e.g. for Leptosphaeria nodorum, were not fully suitable for Lithuanian conditions and need to be developed further.     

Integrated weed management: Quo vadis?

The different components of Integrated Weed Management (IWM), such as crop selection, crop husbandry, plant nutrition, crop protection, farm hygiene, and the site-specific conditions, all are factors having an influence on the successful adoption of the basic IWM concept. Farmers' field activities, directly or indirectly, affect germination and development of weeds as well as weed population dynamics. However, also important non-agronomic parameters indirectly affect weed management. They include farm structure, farmers' personal targets and preferences, the provision and communication of technical know-how, economics, but also demands from society and in the area of ecology. In the light of the many additional important influences and interactions, rather than thinking in terms of IWM, it seems appropriate to view crop production as a whole process, probably best defined as Integrated Crop Management (ICM). Boiling down the mass of information and outlining a rational, straightforward, easy-to-apply and cheap approach for the site-specific weed management is needed for the successful implementation of IWM principles within the framework of ICM.     

http://www.isip.de– online plant protection information in Germany*

The demand for information from agricultural professionals is increasing steadily but can be met with the use of modern communications technologies. Consequently, governmental extension services in Germany have introduced the Information System for Integrated Plant Production (ISIP). ISIP, an Internet‐based information system, gives rapid and convenient access to all data necessary for integrated plant production. Target groups are farmers as well as extension workers. The system focuses on problem‐specific decision support modules for a range of agronomical and horticultural crops. In ISIP, such a module does not only comprise a model for decision support. Due to the fact that a model is only a simplified representation of reality, simulation results are supplemented by monitoring data (if available) and a comment of a regional extension worker. This ‘threefold decision support’ is one of the unique features of ISIP. The framework of ISIP integrating independent models for decision support is built in an open and readily extensible architecture. To incorporate new simulation approaches, the concept of a ‘master component’ frees the developer from technical details and provides a comparatively simple integration. This speeds up model development and ensures a fast knowledge transfer.     

Field validation of a decision support system for the control of pests and diseases in cereals in denmark

The decision in 1986, on an action plan to reduce pesticide use in Denmark by 50% led to increased research on the potential of reducing dosages. A decision support system (PC-Plant Protection), developed by The Danish Institute for Plant and Soil Science, implements this research. It combines a detailed use of threshold values to support decisions on treatment need, choice of pesticides and the appropriate dosage for actual problems in cereals. The pest and disease module within the system has been available commercially since 1993 and up to the end of April 1995, 2000 licences have been issued for its use at agricultural schools and by advisers and farmers. The recommendation model for pest and disease control has been validated in field trials since 1990. The validation has shown that the model is able to provide recommendations for the control of pests and diseases to a satisfactory level, without affecting farmers' gross margins. The model was able to adjust pesticide use to large yearly variations and the average amount of pesticides in the plots treated according to the model was well below that in the reference plots and in the commonly used strategies in Denmark.     

Products containing microorganisms as a tool in integrated pest management and the rules of their market placement in the European Union

Products containing microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses) can be used in plant production as an intervention as well as a prevention method for pest control. Their utilisation is strictly in line with the principles of integrated pest management, provided that they are effective and safe. The rules of registration of microorganisms for crop production in the European Union differ, depending on whether they are placed on the market as plant protection products or not. For over 20 years, uniform rules for registration of plant protection products have been in force. Currently, 36 microorganisms marked up to the strain are approved for use in pest control in the Community. The decision concerning market placement of plant protection products containing approved microorganisms is issued for each member state separately. The approaches to market placement of other products with microorganisms differ within the EU, ranging from a complete lack of requirements to long and costly registration procedures. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

International plant protection; the role of FAO

Plant protection has many international aspects; it is also quickly changing, especially in relation to sustainability. FAO’s activities in plant protection are grouped in four major thrusts: plant quarantine, pesticide management, integrated pest management and migratory pest control. The International Plant Protection Convention defines the FAO’s activities in plant quarantine, while, in response to the GATT Uruguay Round, harmonization of plant quarantine is also being undertaken. Pesticide management activities address the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides and standard setting on pesticide residues. Integrated Pest Management is the core of the plant protection programme, together with international coordination of migratory pest control. All these activities are complemented by technical assistance programmes, including assistance with the establishment of plant protection services.FAO’s activities remain a compromise between what member countries see as desirable and what is affordable. Long term commitment is required to achieve result. New functions in quarantine and pesticide management have been taken up, but the international assessment of pesticides needs urgent attention. The paradigm change away from pesticide use will require further international cooperation. Substantial research and a new control system is needed for locust control.     

Integrated crop management, the basis for environment friendly crop protection of potatoes

Relatively large amounts of pesticides are needed to control diseases and pests in modern, intensive potato production. Integrated crop management offers a way of reducing the need for pesticides. It aims to reduce costs and improve the quality of the product and of the production methods, while maintaining soil fertility and the quality of the environment. The components of integrated crop management are described. Prevention of diseases and pests has high priority. If diseases or pests are present, non-chemical control methods are preferred and chemical control is based on economic criteria and the monitoring of the soil and crops. The contribution of integrated crop management to the control of two important fungal diseases, late blight (Phytophthora infestans), and stem canker (Rhizoctonia solani) and of one pest, potato cyst nematode (Globodera spp..) is described. The prospects for further development of integrated crop protection are discussed.     

Removing constraints to sustainable food production: new ways to exploit secondary metabolism from companion planting and GM

The entire process of agricultural and horticultural food production is unsustainable as practiced by current highly intensive industrial systems. Energy consumption is particularly intensive for cultivation, and for fertilizer production and its incorporation into soil. Provision of nitrogen contributes a major source of the greenhouse gas, N₂O. All losses due to pests, diseases and weeds are of food for which the carbon footprint has already been committed and so crop protection becomes an even greater concern. The rapidly increasing global need for food and the aggravation of associated problems by the effects of climate change create a need for new and sustainable crop protection. The overall requirement for sustainability is to remove seasonal inputs, and consequently all crop protection will need to be delivered via the seed or other planting material. Although genetic modification (GM) has transformed the prospects of sustainable crop protection, considerably more development is essential for the realisation of the full potential of GM and thereby consumer acceptability. Secondary plant metabolism offers wider and perhaps more robust new crop protection via GM and can be accomplished without associated yield loss because of the low level of photosynthate diverted for plant defence by secondary metabolism. Toxic mechanisms can continue to be targeted but exploiting non‐toxic regulatory and signalling mechanisms should be the ultimate objective. There are many problems facing these proposals, both technical and social, and these are discussed but it is certainly not possible to stay where we are in terms of sustainability. The evidence for success is mounting and the technical opportunities from secondary plant metabolism are discussed here. © 2019 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Review: Resistance as a concomitant of modern crop protection

This paper reviews the impact of resistance to fungicides and insecticides/acaricides on the way crop protection is practised. It is now clear that resistance can develop to virtually any crop-protection product, in any pest, fungal pathogen or even weed. As a limiting factor in crop protection, it is a fact of life. A positive side-effect is the precision with which products are used today, with increasing implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes. This is a vital step towards sustainability. This paper describes: past experiences; current status of resistance; how resistance management influences current crop protection practices; regulatory aspects; and the outlook for the future. It concludes that EU regulations on resistance management must be simple and workable. Chemicals will continue to have a central role in optimising yields from the world's crops, as new tools, including biotechnology, become available for crop protection and resistance management. The crop-protection industry's innovations and product stewardship programmes will contribute to sustainable agriculture. This will provide continued benefits to users, the environment and society. ©1997 SCI     

Ergebnisse aus 10 Jahren Untersuchungen zum notwendigen Maß im Netz Vergleichsbetriebe Pflanzenschutz

The reduction of risks associated with plant protection products is the main goal of the National Action Plan on sustainable use of plant protection products. One further goal is the use of plant protection products according to the necessary minimum. This aim serves also as an indicator with the target that 95% of pesticide applications are within the necessary minimum. For this purpose, the data from the Reference Farm Network on the intensity of pesticide use are assessed. With the current study we summarize the result for arable crops over the ten-year project period and investigate in detail the assessments from 2014 until 2016. The results show, that the majority of pesticide treatments are evaluated within the necessary minimum. Deviations occur especially for fungicide and insecticide treatments. Other factors, such as regional weather and pest or disease occurrence, production specific factors as well as farmers’ decision processes additionally influence the annual pesticide use intensity and the necessary minimum. Existing technologies, decision support systems and recommendations from advisory service should be better exploited in order to minimize those deviations.     

Integrated management of insect pests,diseases and weeds of cotton in Africa

Integrated pest management systems were developed originally in response to the appearance of insect populations with resistance to common insecticides. Cotton with its heavy dependence on insecticidal sprays was one of the first crops in which the effectiveness of control declined due to resistance in the target pests. Although insecticide resistance is more of a problem in large scale production systems, the IPM approach can also benefit the smallholder by reducing the number of sprays required with consequent cost savings. Where crop growth is adversely affected by diseases, competition from weeds or poor management, the full benefit of insecticide spray programmes cannot be realised. To be fully effective, insect control should therefore be integrated with other crop protection activities. This paper reviews the insect pests, diseases and weed problems of cotton in Africa and discusses the possibilities for extending the principles of IPM to cover all the crop protection activities with practical examples drawn from both small scale and larger scale production systems.     

The use of a computer-based decision support system to evaluate new parameters in crop protection research1

In Denmark, a computer-based decision support system for control of pests in cereals has been developed. This ‘DSS-CP’ has been tested and validated in field trials for 3 years and has been evaluated by farmers and agricultural advisers. In addition to this use, DSS-CP has proved to be of additional use in the other fields of crop production research. It has been used as a decision maker in situations where standardized decisions have to be made without the bias of technicians. The system has been used to evaluate new parameters in plant protection research related to the decision process, e.g. to quantify variations in treatment needs of barley cultivars, and as a tool to calculate indicators for annual treatment needs in relation to pesticide consumption and annual variations.     

Structure and organization of warning services in Rheinland‐Pfalz (Germany)*

Rheinland‐Pfalz, a federal state in the south‐western part of Germany, is an agricultural region with high crop diversity. For each branch of agriculture (arable, fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants), specific warning and information services have been installed. Advisory work, including warning services, is done by a central (LPP) and eight regional state institutions (SL V As). LPP provides the infrastructure for information dissemination, organizes data acquisition and supplies the farmers with general information on crop protection (availability of plant protection products, control strategies, etc.), SL V As collect data on current pest development and elaborate regional recommendations on field assessments and control measures to be taken by the farmers. Warning service information is transmitted to the farmers by info post (periodic letters), telephone‐answering machines, fax services and, lately, via the Internet. Farmers are mainly interested in current disease and pest severity data, preferably on a local basis, to aid their decision‐making in crop protection. The forecasting models and computer‐aided decision‐support systems run by the state crop protection service have become essential tools during the last four years. Their results, supplemented by field‐monitoring data, serve as the main input for the warning services. The Internet, in conjunction with computerized decision‐support systems, provides the means of ensuring an adequate supply of warning service information at a time when crop protection services are undergoing severe staff reductions.     

促进农作物病虫害绿色防控技术推广应用——2011至2017年全国农作物重大病虫害防控技术方案要点评述

本文介绍并评述了2011-2017年全国农作物重大病虫害防控技术方案要点。这些技术方案主要从贯彻病虫害综合治理原则, 实施重大病虫分区治理、实施联防联控策略, 遵循“节本增效”技术路线, 促进绿色防控技术措施与专业化统防统治融合等方面, 来促进农作物病虫害防控方式的转变和绿色防控技术的推广应用。特别是从增强农田生物多样性入手, 组装配套生态调控措施, 在采用非药剂预防的基础上大力推广保护利用天敌, 减少农药的使用, 实现绿色生态工程控制。     

Protection of potatoes against pests in Ukraine1

Potato production in Ukraine is now mainly in the private sector, and the phytosanitary state of potato crops leaves much to be desired. Control of Leptinotarsa decemlineata is generally well managed, but potato late blight (Phytophthora infestons) is out of control. Potato wart disease continues to cause problems in areas where it occurs because of the unavailability or unacceptability of resistant cultivars. Potato viruses and the losses they cause are little studied or taken into account. Other fungal, bacterial and insect pests are causing increasing problems in the field and in store. Integrated pest management systems are proposed by scientific institutions, including adequate forecasting of potato blight and use of certified seed potatoes of cultivars resistant to wart and cyst nematodes, but these systems do not adequately reach private growers. The range of plant protection products authorized for sale to the general public is very limited, and this is a serious obstacle to adequate plant protection in potato.     

农作物病虫害防治农药速查系统构建与应用

为了让农户能够直观了解及掌握常见病虫害的防治信息,帮助农户通过智能手机在农田、果园和茶园等现场方便快捷地获取作物病虫害图文识别要点与科学防治方法,为农户提供在线植保技术服务,本研究采用RESTful Web 服务架构设计,运用HTML5移动Web开发技术,借助微信平台作为用户访问入口,开发了一款跨平台 (android/iOS) 的农药速查软件系统,实现了农药信息查询、病虫害图谱查询及后台数据管理等功能。通过建立农药与病虫害间的关联关系,实现了从农药名称和病虫害名称两个途径查询农药信息;所构建的数据库涵盖了蔬菜、果树、水稻、茶叶及烟草等共30种福建省常规种植作物上的重要病虫害农药防治技术。初步运用验证结果表明,该系统整体实用性和稳定性较好,适合在农村基层推广应用。基于微信平台的农药速查系统能够满足植保新技术普及和应用的需求,可为农户提供简单便捷、对症下药的在线植保科技服务,对提高用户安全施药和科学防控能力、推进农药的增效减量均具有重要意义。     

黑龙江省农作物病虫测报信息管理与预测系统的开发

根据黑龙江省植保工作的实际需要,同时考虑全国各地植保系统应用的通用性,利用数据库技术和专家系统技术开发了农作物病虫测报信息管理与预测系统。该系统建立了比较完善的数据管理机制,将病虫害监测数据的管理与专家系统测报的应用有机结合起来,具有较强的灵活性和通用性等特点。本文介绍了系统的设计与开发,包括系统的整体结构与功能、系统病虫害信息数据库的设计及整个系统的数据关系、各主要功能模块的设计与实现等,并就未来应用发展的可能性进行了讨论。     

Perceptions of risk, risk aversion, and barriers to adoption of decision support systems and integrated pest management: an introduction

Rational management of plant diseases, both economically and environmentally, involves assessing risks and the costs associated with both correct and incorrect tactical management decisions to determine when control measures are warranted. Decision support systems can help to inform users of plant disease risk and thus assist in accurately targeting events critical for management. However, in many instances adoption of these systems for use in routine disease management has been perceived as slow. The under-utilization of some decision support systems is likely due to both technical and perception constraints that have not been addressed adequately during development and implementation phases. Growers' perceptions of risk and their aversion to these perceived risks can be reasons for the "slow" uptake of decision support systems and, more broadly, integrated pest management (IPM). Decision theory provides some tools that may assist in quantifying and incorporating subjective and/or measured probabilities of disease occurrence or crop loss into decision support systems. Incorporation of subjective probabilities into IPM recommendations may be one means to reduce grower uncertainty and improve trust of these systems because management recommendations could be explicitly informed by growers' perceptions of risk and economic utility. Ultimately though, we suggest that an appropriate measure of the value and impact of decision support systems is grower education that enables more skillful and informed management decisions independent of consultation of the support tool outputs.     

Sampling for decision making in crop loss assessment and pest management: introduction

ABSTRACT Data obtained by sampling are crucial for decision making in crop loss assessment and pest management. Such data improve farmers' perceptions of the threat of pests and can, therefore, improve the quality of decision making in the practice of crop protection. The concept of a threshold, representing the dividing line between two alternative courses of action relating to seed or crop health, is an important aspect of crop protection decision making. Sampling is the means by which the required judgment can be guided. Operating characteristic curves are an important tool in the evaluation and comparison of the performance of sampling schemes. Precision integrated pest management, in which the objective is spatially variable pest management within fields, poses new problems for decision makers and statisticians developing sampling methodology in the context of crop protection.