Question

1. Definition of pesticides and its related terms (Insecticide, herbicides, etc…)
2. About four Major Classes of Pesticides and Insecticides. In what ways they are similar, and what ways are the four classes of pesticides are different? Which group is the safest to humans and the environment and why?
3. Describe major provision of FIFRA?
4. About environmental sustainable pest control methods
5. What is a monoculture? Why do they cause problems with pest control? Where can one see it?

Answer 1

Pesticides are the chemical compounds or biological agents that are primarily meant to control the population of the pests. The pesticide is rather an umbrella term which includes under its scope all type of chemical compounds that are used for any sort of pest control.

Hence it may contain Herbicide, insecticide, nematicide, rodenticide, antimicrobial and fungicide. The pesticides were intended for novel use of plant protection against insects, weed and fungi related damages.

Herbicide- They are the substances which are required for elimination of unwanted plants commonly called as weeds. An upgrade to the herbicides is selective herbicides which leave desired plant species while eliminating other species. They can be organic as well as synthetically manufactured. E.g. Common salt and different metal salts find its use as Herbicides.

Insecticide- As the name suggests, they are used to kill insects. They are widely used in agriculture, industry and medicine. They have been major benefactor behind the raised agricultural productivity of the 20th century. They are grouped into either a repellent or nonrepellent. Some of the biological products to possess insecticidal properties such as Neem leaves, production of Oleoresin by Conifer species.

Nematicide- They are a type of chemical pesticide to kill parasitic nematodes. Nematodes are a group of animals that are similar to insects and are moulting animals such as roundworms. They are normally broad-spectrum toxic agent capable of harming a large variety of insects. Several natural, as well as synthetic nematicides, are known such as garlic-based polysulphide (organic), Carbamate (synthetic) etc.

Rodenticide- they are commonly known as Rat poison. They are non-specific in their behaviour and are commonly used to kill rats and other rodents. Due to their non-specific nature, they are sometimes harmful to most mammals including cats, dogs and humans. Historically metallic phosphide has been used a rodenticide.

Fungicide- Fungicides are chemical compounds used to target fungi or parasitic spores. They are a serious concern for agriculture and grains. Fungicides are mostly sold in liquid form and mostly non-toxic to human health. Sulphur forms the prime component of fungicides due to its fungicidal properties. Both organic and synthetic fungicides are beneficial in controlling the fungal infection.