Horticulture: Plant Protection (Volume I): Instructional-Cum-Practical Manual

Abstract

Insects, pathogens, weeds, rodents etc. pose a serious threat to man in his efforts to derive maximum from raising the crops including the horticultural ones. The menace of insect-pests and diseases is increasing day-to-day with the adoptation of new cropping patterns and luxuriant growth of plants induced by the use of fertilizers and irrigation as they create equally favorable conditions for growth of insect-pests in the form of better food material. This holds particularly true in case of horticultural crops, specially the fruit and vegetable crops. It has been estimated that about 20% of the crops is lost every year due to insect-pest and diseases, which, if converted into monetary value, works out to be well over Rs. 1,000 crores.