How to use chemical pesticides scientifically to protect the ecological environment?
Chemical pesticides play an irreplaceable role in agricultural production, but if used improperly, they will also have serious impacts on the ecosystem and human health. In order to achieve efficient prevention and control of pests and diseases and environmental sustainability at the same time, chemical pesticides need to be used scientifically. This article deeply analyzes from four dimensions: technology, management, policy and future trends, and proposes an operational path.
1. Taking IPM as the core: building an integrated prevention and control system
**Integrated Pest Management (IPM)** is an internationally recognized scientific pesticide application strategy. Its core idea is to use chemical pesticides as a last resort and only use them when necessary, giving priority to cultural, biological and physical measures.
Key principles:
Prevention first: Reduce pest and disease pressure by selecting disease-resistant varieties, crop rotation, intercropping, etc.
sustainableliving.org.nz+1theguardian.com+1;
Monitoring and threshold management: Regular inspections, setting economic insect population thresholds, and applying pesticides only when the threshold is reached;
Choose low-risk pesticides: including preferred products with low toxicity, easy decomposition, and small non-target effects;
Reasonable rotation and mixing: Alternate the use of agents with different mechanisms of action to prevent the emergence of resistance;
Precision application: Use drones, robots and other technologies to achieve point spraying, reduce dosage and protect non-target organisms
arxiv.org+2robs4crops.eu+2sustainableliving.org.nz+2;
Comprehensive evaluation and recording: Record each application information, monitor environmental protection indicators and non-target organism dynamics.
2. Technical means help green pesticide application
1. Precision pesticide application hardware
UAV/robot spot spraying system: As shown by the Robs4Crops project, smart spraying equipment can reduce the use of pesticides by 35–65% and reduce runoff
robs4crops.eu;
Smart trapping and identification equipment: IoT smart insect traps achieve target detection through image recognition and achieve "zero pesticide trapping";
Sensor monitoring and variable pesticide application: Based on smart spraying technologies such as insect density and disease warning, pesticides are only applied to key areas.
2. Innovation of pesticide dosage forms
Microcapsule coating/controlled release dosage forms: slow release, targeted active ingredients, improve efficiency and reduce volatilization and residue;
Nano pesticides: For example, pH-responsive nanocarriers only release drugs in the insect body, achieving "zero penetration residue"
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en.wikipedia.org;
Biological pesticides and organic alternatives: Bt, Neem oil and other biological agents are eco-friendly and can be used in the pre-chemical drug stage
farmonaut.com+2robs4crops.eu+2farmstandapp.com+2.
III. Agricultural management and ecological measures
1. Agronomic regulation
Crop rotation and intercropping: break the life cycle of pests and diseases and reduce pressure;
Adjustment of planting timing: avoid high-risk periods and reduce the use of pesticides;
Farmland sanitation and cleaning: timely remove diseased and residual bodies to reduce the spread of pathogens.
2. Biological control
Release of natural enemies: such as ladybugs and parasitic wasps can effectively inhibit aphids and leaf-eating insects;
Use of biological agents: Bt can directly act on pest larvae, with low toxicity and high efficiency;
Ecological engineering support: Establish ecological isolation zones and flower seeds to attract beneficial insects.
IV. Institutional and policy orientation
Restriction and substitution of high-risk pesticides: For example, the EU has reduced high-risk pesticides by 50%, and China has also strengthened supervision;
Promote GAP/IPM certification system: Promote healthy agricultural products and good agricultural practices
en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3;
Build a monitoring and evaluation system: formulate pesticide use load indicators, open and transparent;
Training and incentives: Support users of environmentally friendly pesticides through agricultural technology training and subsidies;
Establishment of an accountability system: Those who violate regulations and high-dose pesticide application or pollution must bear environmental costs and accept penalties
V. Outlook for sustainable paths
Integrated supporting technology development: sensors, big data and AI-assisted diagnosis to achieve "precision and control";
In-situ intelligent monitoring system: field deployment of pest/disease warning and automatic adjustment of prevention and control strategies;
Socialized ecological agriculture projects: such as the Healthy Grown plan to improve food safety and ecological protection
en.wikipedia.org;
Resistance prevention mechanism: healthy rotation of pesticides and monitoring systems can extend the life cycle of pesticides;
Upgrade to intelligent green production: deep integration of precision pesticide application and ecological strategy.
VI. Conclusion
The scientific use of chemical pesticides is not a "total ban", but must be applied intelligently, accurately and sustainably under the framework of ecological protection. By integrating IPM, precision pesticide application technology, ecological compensation mechanism and policy support, we can achieve both agricultural production increase and environmental health, and move towards a green future together.
