The term "organic farming" is familiar to a considerable number of people, there are various discussions around it. Someone is of the opinion that this is the most effective way of farming, while others consider it only half useful. However, interest in the crop is shown not only by the people who grow it, but also by various pests. In this connection, there is an urgent need for biological means of protecting plants from outside encroachment.
In addition to the available means of struggle, the search for other more effective and safer solutions does not stop. So that, as they say, there would be no harm to people, and pests would get what they deserved.
Plant protection practices
Technologies that create means and methods to combat various pests and diseases are diverse. Currently, many amateur gardeners, as well as workers in the field of folkfarms use these methods. At the same time, they can all be divided into several groups:
- Agrotechnical.
- Biological.
- Physico-mechanical.
- Chemical.
The essence of the agrotechnical method lies in the proper selection of planting material and the place of its planting. At the same time, soil cultivation should be carried out, which leads to a deterioration in the living conditions of various harmful insects. Timely sowing promotes favorable seed germination and plant development, increasing their resistance to damage.
Biological plant protection products are worthy of more detailed study, and therefore they are discussed below in the topic of this article.
Physico-mechanical method involves the destruction of pests and pathogens of various diseases. The collection of insects is carried out manually, using various traps and other devices. The technique is quite laborious, but in some cases it is indispensable. For example, if the nests of hawthorn or goldentail, which usually serve as shelter for insects in winter, are left untouched, the caterpillars that hatch from them will cause serious damage to trees, destroying many leaves.
The chemical method is based on the use of poisons called pesticides. It is important to have certain knowledge here, since an oversight leads to the death of not only the “defenders” in the face of some beneficial insects, people can also be seriously affected. For this reason, chemo is used only when absolutely necessary.
Biological protection
Thanks to the developments of scientists, there weredifferent types of biological plant protection products. Now it is possible to effectively protect most crops not only from diseases, but also from pests. Products from an environmental point of view are absolutely safe for human he alth, since they contain only natural ingredients. It can be both live microorganisms and herbal supplements that have certain properties. As you might guess, we are talking about biological products.
If we compare them with other methods of dealing with misfortune, then biological protection is a modern technology and is not yet so common among many summer residents. However, this is only a matter of time. If almost everyone has encountered the methods described above, then with regard to biological products, not all gardeners have complete information on this matter. What are they and how does biological protection work in general? Let's try to lift this veil of secrecy.
With the help of only agrotechnical measures, all the problems of agriculture are unlikely to be solved, which is called one fell swoop. Not every gardener will want to use chemicals. What to do and how to act? It remains to make a choice in favor of biological plant protection products against pests.
What is typical, if marigolds or calendula are planted around the beds, then this is also a kind of protection of culture at the biological level. These plants and other similar species have a strong odor that has a deterrent effect on most harmfulinsects.
Moles, which under the ground look for the larvae of the cockchafer for food, also provide invaluable assistance. The same applies to chickens, who do not mind feasting on the Colorado potato beetle, as soon as they are released into the garden. All this can also be called a biosecurity system.
Variety of protective biological agents
Now something is becoming clearer regarding biological plant protection. You can even make such a definition - this is when some living organisms (useful) oppress or even destroy other varieties (pests) that pose a serious threat to crops. To help such “defenders”, biological agents have been created, which are divided into several types:
- bioinsecticides – effective against pests;
- biofungicides are good at treating diseases.
This classification is well reflected in the customs documents, which indicate the corresponding HS code for biological plant protection products.
These products pose a serious threat to all fungi, other microorganisms and a number of pests. While they do not affect the plants themselves and people in any way. Moreover, almost each of these varieties is also divided into several subspecies.
However, before moving on to listing them, it is worth familiarizing yourself with a number of benefits from the use of biological products.
Characteristic virtues of biosecurity
And the most important of them is that the drugsare not able to accumulate inside fruit or vegetable plants. For this reason, the possibility of poisoning by a crop harvested from one's own plot is excluded.
Other equally important advantages of biological plant protection products include:
- The causative agents of various diseases, as well as harmful insects, do not get used to the drugs used.
- It doesn't take much to fix the problem.
- Long-lasting effect after application (about 30 days).
- There are no set deadlines for processing - you can start as soon as the snow melts, and until the very end of October.
- Some preparations contain special substances, due to which they not only provide protection against pathogens, but also increase plant immunity.
Because of this, biological agents are the most effective pest control methods.
Protect plants from outside encroachment
Harmful insects can cause serious damage to agriculture, and this applies not only to amateur gardeners, but also to entire farms. Thanks to mites, sawflies, aphids, moths and other parasites, the quality of the crop is significantly reduced. At the same time, the immunity of plants is also subjected to a crushing attack, and as a result, many of them simply cannot withstand the cold. Therefore, special biological plant protection products were created. Everyone has their own types and methods of influencing pests.
The first time after planting, neither pests nor pathogens of variousdiseases are not observed. But one has only to bloom the fruits, and those and others are right there. To protect garden plants, as well as horticultural crops, special biological preparations called insecticides have been created.
Their action comes immediately, and the effectiveness lasts for quite a long time. Preparations are relevant for use not only among owners of private real estate, but also on a large industrial scale. In the manufacture of bioinsecticides, different bases can be used:
- fungi;
- bacteria;
- nematodes.
Only there is one feature regarding the application - the processing of crops must be carried out only in dry weather conditions. In the rain, the product will simply wash off, and then there can be no question of any benefit.
Fungal preparations
Here is one characteristic that these biological plant protection products have. The method of struggle is as follows: first, due to the effect of the active substance on the pests, they are paralyzed, and then destroyed. It is the fungus Streptomyces avermitilis that produces such poison. Such products are especially relevant when the pests are still at the stage of larvae or caterpillars.
Preparations "Aversectin C" and "Avertin-N" effectively fight ticks, nematodes and the Colorado potato beetle. "Verticillin" has a detrimental effect on the aphid whitefly. With the help of another trio, you can also get rid of nematodes once and for all - "Pecilomycin","Metarizina", "Basamila".
With all the effectiveness of these drugs, it is worth knowing their disadvantages:
- you must strictly follow the instructions;
- availability of special storage conditions: from +4°C to -60°C;
- some beneficial insects may also be affected;
- processing should be carried out in the early morning or evening, cloudy days are also suitable, the main thing is that there is no rain.
And all this applies not to one of the listed products, but to all fungal bioinsecticides!
Bacterial agents
This category of biological plant protection against pests includes only two drugs:
- "Lepidocide".
- "Bitoxibaccillin".
Their production is based on a strain of bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis. The drugs are available in powder form. Considering what these bioinsecticides are made of, their shelf life is quite long, up to 1.5 years. There are no special storage conditions, in addition, the drugs do not cause allergic reactions. Only due to high efficiency and due to wide demand, such funds are not so easy to find on sale.
According to experts, Lepidocid is good at fighting leaf-eating insects. Immobilization and death of parasites occurs within the first 4 hours after ingestion of the drug by pests. The active active ingredient is the waste products of bacteria (spores, crystals). And since they constantly release them, the effect of the drug lasts a long time.
The advantage of Lepidocide is that it can be used at any stage of plant development. Scoops, leafworms, moths, sawflies, whites, moths, codling moths, honeydews, golden tails - this drug can cope with all these insects.
Among the analogs of biological plant protection products, Bicol can be distinguished (can replace Lepidocid). It also performs well in pest control on vegetable and fruit crops.
The composition of "Bitoxibaccillin" includes beta-exotoxin, which gives the bioinsecticide a wider functionality among other analogues. The action of active substances spreads not only through the intestines, but also through the cover of harmful insects. It allows you to get rid of both adults and their larvae. But the drug gives the greatest effect by interacting with caterpillars in the early stages of their development.
A good analogue of these two products is "Bicol", which also shows itself well in the fight against pests in vegetable and fruit crops.
Nematode base
Such drugs are quite popular due to the peculiarities of production. Their basis is not those garden pests that you can immediately think of based on the title. For the manufacture of such products, manufacturers of biological plant protection products use microorganisms that can penetrate any insect, regardless of its stage of development (with the exception of eggs). Complete destructionthe pest comes on the 2nd or 3rd day.
A characteristic feature - nematodes are able to secrete bacteria of the Xenorhabdus species, which is actually responsible for the death of pests. There are two drugs in this group:
- "Nemabakt".
- "Antonem-F".
Both effectively deal with weevils, thrips, mushroom mosquitoes, wireworms, bears, cabbage fly. They will also help get rid of the Maybug and locust.
Only before using them, it is necessary to carry out special preparation. To bring nematodes out of hibernation, it is necessary to keep it in a dark place at a temperature of ≈25°C for several hours. After that, you need to perform the sprinkling procedure and only then do the processing.
Fighting the invisible enemy
To protect plants from a number of diseases, there is another kind of biological products - fungicides. Like the previous species, these biological plant protection products against diseases can also be made on the basis of fungi or bacteria. These microorganisms can effectively fight pathogens of various diseases. At the same time, they perform another accompanying function - they improve the soil composition, due to which organic matter decomposes.
Only it is worth using them, adhering to the exact dosage of the drug, which is actually stated in the instructions for use. Otherwise, the effectiveness of the use will not be observed.
Biofungicides from fungi
These funds are no less interesting. Spores from beneficial fungi penetrate the bodies of parasites and destroy them after a while. As a result, this leads to a slowdown in the growth of pests or their development stops altogether.
White and gray rot can be combated with a biological plant protection agent such as Koniotirin. And powdery mildew can be handled by Ampelomycin.
Among the shortcomings, it is worth highlighting a few points. The shelf life of drugs is short. In addition, being warm, they quickly lose their properties.
Biofungicides from bacteria
These drugs effectively fight pathogens of various diseases of flower crops. They are applied in different ways: directly into the soil or by spraying.
Among many gardeners, the Fitosporin-M tool enjoys special honor. It contains hay fever pathogens that are resistant to low levels of moisture, and also tolerate a wide range of low and high temperatures. Once inside the plant, they prevent the formation of colonies of pathogenic microorganisms.
It is worth noting that this biological plant protection agent can be used as a preventive measure. "Fitosporin-M" can process not only the crops themselves, but also their seeds. It is only important to follow the dosage instructions exactly.
Public opinion
Judging by the reviews of somesummer residents, the effectiveness of certain biological preparations is indeed confirmed. For example, many noted the good work of Lepidocide in the fight against caterpillars and other pests. No less effective was the drug "Bitoxibaccillin". And, as most people who have tried these or other drugs of biological origin note, this is the best alternative to chemical agents.
Currently, the Internet is not only one of the popular types of home entertainment - it can also perform a useful function. For example, thanks to feedback on biological crop protection products, now many fans of growing crops or favorite crop varieties will be able to find a profitable solution for themselves. This is especially true for beginners, as experienced agronomists already have certain skills and knowledge.
