Chapter 26

Integrated Pest Management in Greenhouses

Chemical Pest Control in Greenhouses

Integrated pest management (IPM) does not imply that no chemicals are used in the control of pests. Rather, better-targeted control with less chemical usage occurs because of the integration of additional cultural, physical, biological, and biorational management measures. If all other integrated pest management tactics are unable to keep a pest population below an economic threshold, then use of traditional pesticides to control pests and prevent economic loss is justified. Conventional pesticides (i.e., synthesized by the agrochemical companies) are man-made and are the larg group of pesticides used by growers. There are many classes of synthetic pesticides. The main classes consist of organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids.

Chemicals Allowed for Organic Crop Production

Organic farmers can use chemicals derived from natural sources and synthetic substances within the regulations of the USDA NOP if other strategies and cultural management practices fail to control pests and diseases. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances managed by the NOP, identifies substances that may or may not be used in organic crop production. In general, synthetic substances are prohibited unless specifically allowed and non-synthetic substances, or natural substances, are allowed unless specifically prohibited.

Click on the following topics for more information on integrated pest management in greenhouses.