Plant Protection

Plant protection encompasses efforts to protect the health of cultivated plants, increase their yields, and ensure sustainability. Furthermore, through protective practices, improved production, increased yields, and economic gains can be achieved. The right method must be applied to achieve this.

Elements of Plant Protection

Plant protection is necessary in forest enterprises, agricultural areas, gardens, and landscape areas. To carry out these efforts, three elements must be examined: disease control, weed control, and pest control. After examining these elements, an appropriate and informed method must be employed. This ensures plant protection during production and development.

Pests Required for Plant Protection

The first element of plant protection is pest control. In areas such as fields, forests, or gardens, pests live on or reach plants. These pests cause damage by eating plants, causing disease, and affecting their growth. To mitigate this damage, it is necessary to identify and control the pests that negatively impact plants.

Some of the pests that require plant protection include: o Slugs

·         Earthworms

·         Snails

·         Mole crickets

·         Nematodes

·         Whiteflies

·         Scale insects

·         Maybugs

·         Mites

·         Red spider mites

·         Thrips

·         Leafcutter

·         Bollworms

These pests, which affect plant development and survival, must be managed correctly. Chemicals are generally preferred for control, and it’s important to identify the specific pest before using any chemicals.

Diseases Requiring Plant Protection

Diseases constitute the second element of plant protection. Diseases that plants encounter prevent their growth, development, and yield. Therefore, these diseases must be treated.

Diseases requiring plant protection:

·         Damping-Off

·         Yellowing

·         Powdery Mildew

·         Rust

·         Black Spot

·         Edema

·         Winter Damage

·         Defoliation

·         Cancer

Diseases do not necessarily occur in every plant. For example, cancer is seen in horse chestnut, while defoliation is seen in pine. Therefore, management must be tailored to the plant type and disease.

Non-Weeds Requiring Plant Protection

The third element of plant protection is nociferous weeds. These weeds grow naturally in fields and agricultural lands where plants grow. They damage the plant’s roots, leaves, and fruits. This can lead to both reduced production and plant death. To prevent this, frequent weed control is necessary, and emerging weeds must be eradicated.

Plant Protection Control Methods

Many control methods are available to protect plants from weeds, diseases, and pests. The effectiveness of these methods varies. Furthermore, using the right control method can help save the plant.

The preferred control methods for plant protection include:

·         Cultural control: This method involves efforts to prevent the growth of harmful organisms. These efforts include fertilization, tillage, irrigation, drainage, sparse cultivation, clean seed, pruning, crop rotation, clean seed, clean equipment, and plant waste removal.

·         Physical control: This method is used to capture or prevent the growth of harmful organisms. Pheromone traps, light traps, and sticky traps are used in this method. These traps easily capture insects and other organisms.

·         Biological control: This method utilizes living organisms to eliminate harmful organisms. This method utilizes parasites, predators, vectors, and pathogens.

·         Chemical control: This method uses chemicals such as pesticides to protect plants. Pesticides are used in solid, liquid, granular, and powder forms.

In addition to these, biotechnical, mechanical, and technical pest control methods are also available. Genetic control kills plant-damaging insects, while mechanical control removes harmful organisms.