Pests, plant diseases, and weeds can be serious threats to crops. Chemical companies say the only solution is to spray pesticides regularly. But chemicals may cause more problems than they solve. Sustainable farming works with nature to keep crops, pests, diseases, weeds, and soil life in balance. This is called natural pest management or integrated pest management (IPM).
Natural pest management prevents problems with pests and plant diseases, and keeps harmful chemicals out of our bodies and environment. It also avoids problems of chemical dependence and pesticide resistance. (For some immediate methods to resolve pest problems, see “Spray with natural pesticides” and “Physical methods of pest control.”)
Even if you are willing to use pesticides, it is still important to know if pests are harming your crops, how much damage is being done, and whether creatures in the fields are already controlling the pest. Then you can decide if and when to use chemicals, and what kinds to use.
The best way to control both pests and diseases is to keep plants healthy.
Build healthy soil. Healthy soil provides a home to friendly insects and helps prevent many plant diseases.
Plant resistant varieties. Ask farmers or extension agents about seeds to make sure the ones you choose are resistant to common pests and diseases.
Space plants correctly. Planting crops too close together limits the sunshine and air that reaches the leaves, and allows diseases to thrive. But planting crops farther apart leaves room for weeds, dries the soil, and may reduce the harvest. Experiment to see what spacing works best for each crop.
Plant at the right times. Pests and diseases often respond to the weather, such as the first rains or the first warm day. Watching how each crop grows and talking with other farmers about these patterns can help you decide the best time to plant. Planting earlier than usual can make sure crops are big enough to resist pests or diseases that come at a certain time. Planting later can cause most of the pests or diseases to die out for lack of food.