Crop protection involves applying multiple instruments, strategies, and products to protect crops from harmful factors such as weeds and pests. Experts around the world are working on developing effective methods to minimize the impacts of these harmful factors.
Notably, the various developments on crop protection are in line with research conducted by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. This research revealed that farmers stand to lose up to 40 percent of crop production if they fail to apply viable crop protection methods. Here are some of the areas that farmers and manufacturers should focus on:
Weed Management
Weeds are known to carry pests and diseases that can harm crops and reduce productivity. They also deprive plants of oxygen and nutrients, which can significantly reduce their productivity. Various studies show that a lack of effective crop protection methods contributes to the loss of 10 to 50 percent of harvests.
Weeds can be controlled using preventive and fighter activities; the former includes applying methods such as quarantine and correct seed treatment and storage. Preventive measures include chemical, biological, and agrotechnical. A combination of these methods can go a long way in protecting crops from harmful weeds.
Disease Management
Equally crucial in crop protection is disease management. There is a broad range of measures that farmers can adopt to save crops from diseases. Some of them include crop rotation, planting disease-resistant crops, quarantining affected plants, and deep plowing.
Through modern technology, farmers can protect their crops by analyzing temperatures, humidity, and soil conditions. As such, they can forecast any issues that might affect crops negatively.
Insect Management
Insects are known to transmit most diseases that affect crops, and therefore it is important to control them. Farmers can employ methods such as biological control, crop scouting, targeted habitat management, and rotation.
Integrated pest management, which basically entails using multiple strategies, works to monitor and prevent insect damage to crops. If well used, it can help manage insects and keep crop diseases at bay.
Protecting crops from invasion by pests and diseases is a requisite to getting high yields. This underscores the importance of applying the necessary measures to reduce damages and consequently boost productivity.
At Belton Industries, we focus on providing solutions to protect plants and crops in order to keep productivity high. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
