This article explores the application and implications of pesticides in agriculture, highlighting their use, challenges, and effects on ecosystems.
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Introduction to Pesticides in Agriculture
Pesticides are applied to crops by agricultural aircraft, tractor-mounted crop sprayers, or as seed dressings to control pests. However, successful control by pesticides is not easy; the right formulation must be chosen, timing is often critical, the method of application is important, and adequate coverage and retention on the crop are necessary.
Minimizing the killing of natural enemies of the target pest is essential, particularly in countries with natural reservoirs of pests and their enemies in the countryside surrounding plantation crops, where a delicate balance exists. Often in less-developed countries, crops are well adapted to local conditions, requiring no pesticides.
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General Overview of Pesticides in Agricultural Systems
Where progressive farmers use fertilizers to grow improved crop varieties, these are often more susceptible to pest damage, but indiscriminate pesticide application may be detrimental in the long term.
The efficacy of chemical pesticides diminishes over time, as surviving organisms pass resistance genes to offspring, developing resistant strains no longer killed by pesticides effective against their ancestors.
This necessitates higher chemical concentrations, more frequent applications, and shifts to costlier formulations. Pesticides are formulated to kill pests, but many have detrimental effects on non-target species.
Of particular concern is damage to honey-bees, solitary bees, and other pollinating insects, where the time of day for spraying is significant. Neonicotinoids, widely used, have been banned on flowering crops in some countries due to their impact on bees.
Some pesticides may cause cancer and other health issues in humans and harm wildlife, with acute effects post-exposure or chronic effects from continuous low-level or occasional exposure. Maximum residue limits for pesticides in foodstuffs and animal feed are set by many nations.
Maximum residue limits for pesticides in foodstuffs and animal feed are established by many nations to mitigate health and environmental risks.
Pesticides are formulated to kill pests, but many have detrimental effects on non-target species. Of particular concern is damage to honey-bees, solitary bees, and other pollinating insects, where the time of day for spray application is critical.
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