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Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a science-based, systems-oriented approach to pest control that prioritizes prevention, monitoring, biological balance, and targeted intervention. Rather than relying on routine pesticide applications, IPM integrates biological, cultural, mechanical, and chemical tools to manage pest populations below damaging thresholds while preserving environmental integrity and long-term system stability.

IPM is widely used in professional agriculture, greenhouses, indoor growing environments, and nursery production where plant health, soil biology, and resistance management are critical.

Foundational Principles of IPM

1. Monitoring & Accurate Identification

Effective pest management begins with consistent observation and correct identification. Many pests require species-specific controls, and misidentification often leads to ineffective treatment or unnecessary disruption.

Common pests in intensive growing systems include:

Inspection should include leaf surfaces (top and underside), petioles, nodes, new growth, and the soil surface. Hand lenses (10–30×) or digital microscopes are strongly recommended.

2. Preventive Cultural Controls

Healthy, unstressed plants are naturally more resistant to pest pressure. Preventive practices form the backbone of IPM and reduce the need for intervention.

Key practices include:

  • Strict sanitation and debris removal

  • Proper spacing and canopy airflow

  • Controlled irrigation to avoid saturated media

  • Crop rotation or fallow periods

  • Quarantine of incoming plants (7–14 days minimum)

3. Action Thresholds

IPM does not aim for complete pest eradication. Instead, it focuses on maintaining populations below levels that cause economic or physiological damage. Thresholds vary by pest species, plant growth stage, and environmental conditions.

Daily IPM Tasks

Visual Inspection

  • Inspect leaves, stems, nodes, and soil surface

  • Watch for stippling, chlorosis, curling, webbing, honeydew, frass, or distorted growth

Environmental Monitoring

Maintain conditions that discourage pest reproduction:

  • Temperature: ~68–77°F (20–25°C)

  • Relative Humidity: Adjust by growth stage; prolonged high RH favors mites, thrips, and pathogens

  • Ensure constant air movement and avoid stagnant microclimates

Sticky Traps

  • Yellow traps: fungus gnats, aphids, whiteflies

  • Blue traps: thrips

  • Use traps to track trends, not just presence

Sanitation

  • Remove dead plant material daily

  • Sanitize tools and surfaces using isopropyl alcohol (70%) or appropriate disinfectants

Weekly IPM Tasks

Detailed Plant Inspection

  • Use magnification to inspect new growth and leaf undersides

  • Pay close attention to mites (Tetranychus, Aculops, Polyphagotarsonemus)

Root Zone & Media Monitoring

  • Avoid overwatering to limit Bradysia spp. reproduction

  • Monitor for root stress or unexplained vigor loss

Biological & Preventive Controls

Common biological tools include:

Mycoinsecticides

  • Beauveria bassiana

  • Metarhizium anisopliae

Bacterial Controls

  • Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) for fungus gnat larvae

  • Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk) for caterpillars (early stages)

Beneficial Insects

  • Phytoseiulus persimilis (spider mites)

  • Amblyseius swirskii (thrips, whiteflies)

  • Amblyseius cucumeris (thrips)

  • Encarsia formosa (whiteflies)

Environmental Adjustments

  • Reduce humidity as canopy density increases

  • Increase airflow to eliminate pest-friendly microclimates

Monthly IPM Tasks

Soil & Root Zone Biological Health

  • Apply beneficial nematodes:

    • Steinernema feltiae

    • Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

  • Reinoculate with beneficial microbes to support plant immunity

Deep Sanitation

  • Clean floors, benches, fans, ducting, and containers

  • Eliminate standing water and organic residue

Canopy Management

  • Prune excess or lower growth to improve airflow

  • Remove infested tissue immediately and discard off-site

Rotation of Control Methods

Rotate modes of action to prevent resistance:

  • Oils (early growth only)

  • Insecticidal soaps

  • Biologicals

  • Spinosad (Saccharopolyspora spinosa)

IPM During Flowering or Reproductive Stages

As plants enter flowering or fruiting, IPM shifts toward non-residual, non-disruptive methods to protect crop quality.

Daily Focus

  • Inspect flowers, developing fruit, and surrounding foliage

  • Maintain RH at 40–50% to suppress Botrytis cinerea and Erysiphe spp.

  • Ensure strong airflow through dense growth

Weekly Focus

  • Avoid full-canopy sprays

  • Use spot treatments only:

    • Manual removal

    • Water sprays

    • Diatomaceous earth (soil surface only)

Biological Support

  • Continue beneficial insect releases:

    • Phytoseiulus persimilis

    • Amblyseius swirskii

    • Chrysoperla rufilabris (green lacewing larvae)

Soil Pest Control

  • Bti for larvae

  • Beneficial nematodes for root pests

Targeted Pest Strategies

  • Spider mites (Tetranychus spp.): predatory mites, humidity control, biological rotation

  • Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis): predatory mites, blue traps, Beauveria bassiana

  • Aphids (Myzus persicae): Hippodamia convergens, lacewings, spot treatments

  • Fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.): Bti, nematodes, improved drainage

  • Caterpillars (Heliothis, Spodoptera): Btk (early stages), hand removal

Best Practices

  • Avoid oil-based sprays once flowers or fruit are present

  • Quarantine all incoming plants

  • Maintain detailed IPM logs

  • Prioritize biological balance over eradication

APSU Soil Pest Solutions

For pest-specific tools, biological controls, and system-compatible treatments, visit apsusoil.com/pest. This resource outlines APSU Soil–approved pest solutions designed to integrate seamlessly with IPM programs and living soil systems while minimizing disruption to soil biology.

IPM Philosophy

Healthy plants grown in balanced environments require fewer interventions.
IPM succeeds when prevention, biology, and observation work together.