Describe the use of alternatives to conventional chemical application for the control of agricultural pests

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANS:
The use of pesticides has helped to generate higher crop yields that feed the world and protect against diseases transmitted by insects. Still, many consumers are leery. To feed a nation while using fewer pesticides requires creative farming methods. These methods include such practices as rotating crops, releasing organisms into fields to destroy pests, and planting non- food crops nearby to kill pests or attract them away from the food crops. For example, releasing sterile male fruit flies into orchards helps to curb the population growth of these pests; some flowers, such as marigolds, release natural insecticides and are often planted near crops such as tomatoes. Such alternative farming methods are more labor-intensive and may produce smaller yields than conventional methods, at least initially. Over time, though, by eliminating expensive pesticides, fertilizers, and fuels, these alternatives may actually cut costs more than they cut yields.