ABSTRACT

Current agriculture is influenced by both the pressure for increased productivity and increased stresses caused by plant pests. Plant diseases and pests can affect a wide range of crop species, and result in a significant yield loss. Throughout the desire for new pest control measures, the IPM strategy has by far gotten the most attention as a holistic pest management option. The fundamental component of an IPM program is a method to monitor fields to determine if there is a pest problem that justify control measures. Traditional field-based pest monitoring is time consuming, not cost effective and full of human errors. In addition, there was weakness in the application of conventional IPM as it lacks adequate intelligence for effective pest management. The inadequate intelligence leads to blanket and uniform treatment of field. The monitoring system using Space technology techniques would be cost effective, and fields could be treated with pesticide when, and where, needed using a “site-specific” IPM approach. The spectral reflection of afield will vary with respect to changes in the phenology (growth) stage, type, and crop health, and thus can be measured and monitored by multispectral sensors. This paper highlights judicious use of pesticides in IPM, weakness of conventional IPM, components of Space technology to be incorporated in IPM, and benefits of incorporation of Space technology in IPM.