Course Description
The principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the applications of these principles for pest management in vegetable and fruit production and turfgrass are presented. The essential building blocks for the creation of IPM programs are considered; these include surveys of pests, diseases and weeds, alternative practices and non-chemical means of control, monitoring and forecasting methods, and strategies for management and their implementation. The course concludes with some examples of existing IPM programs in practice. This course provides a holistic view of pest management, emphasizing the integration of different methods for maintaining pests, diseases and weeds below damaging levels, with the goal of minimizing the use of chemical pesticides that disrupt the environment.
Intended Student
The course is intended for upper division students in plant science, crop protection, agroecology and related disciplines. However it is also suitable for working adults who wish to enhance their skills in modern crop protection, including those working in horticulture and allied agricultural sectors, including urban landscape professionals. We assume that all students will have at least a fundamental knowledge of entomology but there are no specific prerequisites.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will understand and be able to describe:
- the essential components of IPM systems
- the major types of beneficial and pestiferous arthropods, plant pathogens and weeds
- forecasting and monitoring methods
- biological, cultural and other non-chemical means of pest control
- the development and implementation of IPM programs
- some examples of existing IPM programs in British Columbia
Course Overview
APBI 428 consists of 24 lessons divided unevenly into 7 units.
Unit 1. Introduction to Integrated Pest Management
Unit 2. General Ecological Considerations in Integrated Pest Management
Unit 3. Arsenal of Methods for Manipulating Pest Populations in Integrated Pest Management.
Unit 4. Monitoring and Forecasting Procedures for pests Used in Integrated Pest Management programs
Unit 5. Integrated Pest Management strategies.
Unit 6. Examples of Integrated Pest Management in practice.
Unit 7. The Maintenance, Expansion and Enhancement of Integrated Pest Management programs.
Assignments
There are three assignments that must be completed as part of this course. Each assignment corresponds to one of the first three building blocks of an IPM program, namely, (1) basic ecological studies; (2) arsenal development; and (3) monitoring and surveillance. You must choose a single crop from the following list and stay with that crop for all three assignments. Your assignments should focus on the pest situation in British Columbia, to the extent that specific information is available. The crops are: potato, apple, onion and carrot (you must do both), greenhouse tomato and cucumber (do both), cabbage and related cole crops.
Evaluation
Assignment #1: 20%
Assignment #2: 20%
Assignment #3: 20%
Final Examination: 40%
Total: 100%
Learning Resources
Recommended Reading material:
Weed Control: An Introductory Manual by R. Cranston
Reprints of Chapters 6 & 7 from Introduction to Integrated Management by M. Flint and R. van den Bosch
Howard, R.J. et al. (eds.), Diseases and Pests of Vegetable Crops in Canada, Can. Phytopathol. Soc. And Entomol. Soc. Canada, 554 pp., 1994.
1996-97 Vegetable Production Guide (for Commercial Growers), B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
1996-97 Tree Fruit Production Guide (for Commercial Growers), B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
1996-97 Greenhouse Vegetable Production Guide (for Commercial Growers), B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Integrated Pest Management for Apples and Pears, Univ. of Calif. Publ. No. 3340, 216 pp.
Integrated Pest Management for Cole Crops and Lettuce, Univ. of Calif. Publ. No. 3307, 112 pp.
Integrated Pest Management for Potatoes, Univ. of Calif. Publ. No. 3316, 146 pp.
