Crop production

• What is the main focus of crop protection?

  Control of weeds, pests, and diseases
• What are the issues associated with crop protection?

  Weeds, pests, and diseases affect crops
• What are the main features of weeds?

  They grow where not wanted
• What are the main pest species that attack crops?

  Nematodes, molluscs, insects
• What is the economic impact of weeds on farmers?

  Reduced productivity and income loss
• How do natural ecosystems differ from agricultural ecosystems?

  Natural ecosystems have diverse species
• What is monoculture in agriculture?

  Growing one crop species in an area
• How does competition affect monocultures?

  It can be reduced by planting in rows
• What are annual weeds?

  Plants completing life cycle in one year
• What are the properties of annual weeds?

  Grow quickly, high seed output
• What are perennial weeds?

  Plants living for several years
• What are the properties of perennial weeds?

  Established, have storage organs
• How do invertebrate pests affect crops?

  They destroy leaves, reducing photosynthesis
• What role do pests play as vectors?

  They can carry diseases to crops
• What causes plant diseases?

  Pathogens like bacteria, fungi, viruses
• How can plant diseases affect crop yield?

  They can reduce yield and marketability
• What are the two main methods of controlling weeds, pests, and diseases?

  Cultural means and chemical means
• What is the purpose of disease forecasts?

  To prevent crop diseases through monitoring
• What are selective and systemic plant protection chemicals?

  Target specific pests or act throughout plant
• What is bioaccumulation?

  Accumulation of chemicals in food chains
• What are the ideal characteristics of a pesticide?

  Specific, short life, safe for users
• What risks are associated with biological control?

  Control agents may escape and harm ecosystems
• What is integrated pest management (IPM)?

  Combines chemical and biological control methods
• What happens when pesticides create resistant populations?

  Some pests survive and reproduce resistant offspring
• What is the economic impact of weeds on farmers?

  They reduce crop productivity and income
• How do plant diseases affect crop marketability?

  They can make crops less marketable
• What is the role of cultural control in pest management?

  It reduces pest populations through practices
• What is the significance of monitoring air temperature and humidity for disease forecasts?

  It helps predict conditions for disease outbreaks
• What is the impact of persistent plant protection chemicals?

  They remain in the environment long-term
• How do chemical insecticides affect non-target species?

  They can be toxic to a broader range of organisms
• What is the role of herbicides in crop protection?

  They control unwanted plant growth
• What is the effect of chemical pesticides on biodiversity?

  They can harm non-target organisms
• What is the purpose of using fungicides?

  To control fungal infections in crops
• What is the significance of crop rotation in pest management?

  It disrupts pest life cycles and reduces populations
• What is the role of ploughing in cultural pest control?

  It helps manage weed populations
• How do systemic pesticides work?

  They are absorbed and act throughout the plant
• What is the impact of chemical control methods on crop yield?

  They can improve yield by controlling pests
• What is the importance of early weed removal?

  It prevents competition with crop plants
• What is the role of monitoring in disease management?

  It helps predict and prevent disease outbreaks
• What is the significance of using selective herbicides?

  They target specific weed types without harming crops