**Abstract**

Integrated pest management is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach for pest management. It plays an important role in sustainable agriculture and quality of food production by providing maximum economic yield to the farmer and also improving human health and environment. Recent developments in agricultural technology, modern communication tools, changing consumer trends, increased awareness for sustainably produced food systems, and globalization of trade and travel, have necessitated the need for the IPM paradigm as appropriate for modern times. Although the concept of integrated pest management originated almost 60 years ago, currently integrated pest management is a robust paradigm of pest control around the globe. This chapter reviews the history of integrated pest management, its main principles, and components of integrated pest management such as host plant resistance, cultural control, behavioral control, mechanical/ physical control, biological control, and chemical control.

**Keywords:** pest management, global losses, sustainable agriculture, new model, control measures

#### **1. Introduction**

One of the major challenges of the twenty-first century is to provide food for its ever-growing population. It has pushed food production systems to maximum efficiency and the demand requires farmers to produce more crops on existing farmland that needs continuous improvement of agricultural technologies to minimize crop losses. Although chemical pesticides have played a vital role in providing an abundant and inexpensive food source [1], its persistent overuse has resulted in a number of adverse environmental impacts such as pesticide resistance, resurgence of insect pests, pesticide poisoning, environmental toxicity, elimination of predator species, negative outcomes for other nontarget organisms, disruption in the food web, accumulation of toxins in the food webs, and reduced crop yields [2, 3]. Thus, to feed the future generations and to meet increasing demand for wide spectrum of high-quality fresh products without degrading the resources, strategy must be economically viable and ecologically sustainable. Integrated pest management (IPM) strategy being environmentally friendly pest management is increasingly being adopted in both developed and developing countries for adequate safe and quality food production, improves farmer's livelihood and conserves nonrenewable resources.

### **1.1 Definition of integrated pest management**

Although multiple sources define IPM in diverse ways, previous models primarily focused on the ecological, and to some extent on the evolutionary, aspects of pest management [4]. IPM is a holistic "approach" or "strategy" to combat plant pests and diseases using all available methods, while minimizing applications of chemical pesticides [5]. The basic aim of IPM is not to eradicate pests, but to manage them, maintaining their populations below economic injury levels [6, 7]. IPM is a combination of methods to manage the pest population with considerations of economic efficiency and environmental effects rather than an eradicative method, which was used in traditional practices [8]. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FOA) defines integrated pest management as careful consideration of all available pest control methods and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that deter the development of pest populations and keep pesticides and other interventions to levels that are economically justified and minimize risks to human health and the environment. The United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service [9] defines integrated pest management as a sustainable, decisionmaking process that aims at keeping pest population at below economic threshold levels by employing pest control techniques such as biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods to identify, manage, and reduce risk from pests and pest management tools and strategies in a way that minimizes overall economic, health, and environmental risks. This strategy avoids undesirable short-term and long-term ripple effects and will ensure a sustainable future [10]. IPM differs from organic agriculture as it allows the judicious use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other materials made from synthetic materials when necessary whereas organic agriculture largely restrict to allowable pesticides made from natural materials only [11].

#### **1.2 Integrated pest management: a historical perspective**

In the 1940s with development of synthetic pesticides, the whole scenario of crop pest management changed. Pesticides played a major role in crop production due to their efficacy, convenience, flexibility, and economy. It began with the introduction of alkyl thiocyanate insecticides, and then the discovery of remarkable insecticidal properties of DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) in 1939 by Paul Muller. DDT was followed by the manufacture of other chlorinated hydrocarbons, including aldrin, endrin, heptachlor and recognition of the herbicidal activity of the phenoxyacetic acids-MCPA (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid). A number of synthetic inorganic insecticides containing arsenic, mercury, tin, and copper were also developed in nineteenth century. By the 1950s, overuse of insecticides had generated numerous wellrecognized cases of pest resistance and destruction of natural enemies of pests [12]. Due to over reliance on synthetic pesticides from the late 1940s to mid-1960s, the period has been called "the dark ages" of pest control. However, in the late 1950s, entomologists began to identify the problems associated with extensive and intensive use, misuse, and abuse of insecticides and pesticide resistance, secondary pest outbreaks, hazards of toxic residues in food commodities and biomagnifications, environmental pollution, and killing of nontarget beneficial organisms. Although many components of IPM were developed long time back through trial and error experiences, farmers had developed a number of mechanical, cultural, and physical control measures of different pests; however, the concept of IPM came into existence only after realizing the harmful effects of chemical pesticides. The term Integrated Pest Control was first used as "integrated control" by Barlett [13] for the integrated use of biological and chemical control to manage insect pests of

**5**

*Integrated Pest Management: A Paradigm for Modern Age*

agricultural crops. The first integrated control program was devised for managing spotted alfalfa aphid, *Therioaphis maculata* (Buckton), on alfalfa grown for hay purposes. It was further elaborated as an approach that applies to the concept of integrating the biological and other controls in complementary ways [7]. The concepts of economic threshold level and economic injury level were also introduced by these authors. Subsequently, it was broadened to include all control methods and all classes of pests (insects, plant pathogens, nematodes, weeds, vertebrate pests, etc.). Shortly after IPM concept first appeared, Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring" in 1962 was published, which explored the effects of pesticide overuse on environment and nontarget species [14–16]. Hence, the public awareness was raised and thereby the concept "integrated control" became popular in both scientific literature and practice [15, 17]. From past 30 years, IPM has been a valuable paradigm for organizing research and extension efforts worldwide and since then numerous IPM programs are being implemented worldwide. The future aim of IPM programs should not be restricted to only efficient use of pesticides and product substitution; rather these programs should aim at fundamental structural changes through effective

understanding of ecological processes and synergy between crops.

Main proponents of IPM suggest six basic strategies to improve insect manage-

The cheapest and most reliable way to avoid many pest problems is to provide an environment that discourages pest activities/infestation. These types of methods include suppression of harmful organisms from becoming problems by planning

2.Use of adequate cultivation techniques like seedbed sanitation, management of sowing/planting time and plant densities, under-sowing, conservation tillage,

3.Use of resistant cultivars, standard/certified seeds and planting material.

5.Preventing the spread of harmful organisms through field sanitation and

Pest identification is one of the foremost strategies to control the pest population. Moreover, when the identity of a pest is not known, then, a strategy built to control the pest at a particular site cannot be transferred to another, as pest species or strain at another site might behave differently. Thus, a solid foundation must be

built on pest's systematic, taxonomy, etiology, and spatial distribution [18].

4.Well-balanced nutrient supply and optimal water management.

6.Protecting and enhancing beneficial organisms.

**2. General principles of integrated pest management**

ment strategies:

**2.1 Prevention**

and managing various options such as:

1.Crop rotation and intercropping.

pruning, and direct sowing.

hygiene measures.

**2.2 Pest identification**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92283*

*Integrated Pest Management: A Paradigm for Modern Age DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92283*

agricultural crops. The first integrated control program was devised for managing spotted alfalfa aphid, *Therioaphis maculata* (Buckton), on alfalfa grown for hay purposes. It was further elaborated as an approach that applies to the concept of integrating the biological and other controls in complementary ways [7]. The concepts of economic threshold level and economic injury level were also introduced by these authors. Subsequently, it was broadened to include all control methods and all classes of pests (insects, plant pathogens, nematodes, weeds, vertebrate pests, etc.). Shortly after IPM concept first appeared, Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring" in 1962 was published, which explored the effects of pesticide overuse on environment and nontarget species [14–16]. Hence, the public awareness was raised and thereby the concept "integrated control" became popular in both scientific literature and practice [15, 17]. From past 30 years, IPM has been a valuable paradigm for organizing research and extension efforts worldwide and since then numerous IPM programs are being implemented worldwide. The future aim of IPM programs should not be restricted to only efficient use of pesticides and product substitution; rather these programs should aim at fundamental structural changes through effective understanding of ecological processes and synergy between crops.
