Gourt > Science > Agriculture > Pests and Diseases > Biological Control
Biological control of pests and diseases is a method of controlling pests and diseases in agriculture that relies on natural predation rather than introduced chemicals.
Overview
A key belief of the organic gardener is that biodiversity furthers health. The more variety a landscape has, the more sustainable it is. The organic gardener therefore works to create a system where the insects that are sometimes called pests and the pathogens that cause diseases are not eradicated, but instead are kept at manageable levels by a complex system of checks and balances within a living and vibrant ecosystem. Contrary to more 'conventional' gardening practices which often use chemical methods to kill both useful and harmful garden life forms indiscriminately, this is a holistic approach that seeks to develop an understanding of the webs of interaction between the myriad of organisms that constitute the garden fauna and flora. The organic gardener will often hold the view for example that the eradication of the creatures that are often described as pests is not only not possible, but also undesirable, for without them the beneficial predatory and parasitic insects which depend upon them as food or hosts would not be able to survive.
In a healthy natural woodland where there is little direct human intervention, pest and disease organisms will always be present, but, unless there is a drastic environmental change, will normally kept in a state of equilibrium where they are not able to get out of hand to a level which is detrimental to the overall woodland community. This is the model for which the sensitive organic gardener will strive, but at the same time it is wise to recognise that there will often be some degree of intervention needed to manipulate the natural checks and balances to the gardener's favour, particularly if growing plants for food or ornament which would not normally occur in natural situations. Therefore biological control is about developing a range of techniques that use living organisms to maintain the beneficial equilibria in garden landscapes without causing adverse effects to humans or the wider environment. Of course, introducing exotic insects into any ecosystem entails taking risks of moving further from the intended equilibrium through unexpected interactions.
More on [ Biological pest control ]
Agriculture and Forestry Biologicals
Natural :: Pest Control
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE : ITâS ALL ABOUT BALANCE: ORGANIC CONTROL OF RHODOCOCCUS We wrote about a year ago about ou.. http://bit.ly/66GZGC
Summerhill_Stud (Summerhill Stud) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:18:27 -0000
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE : IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE: ORGANIC CONTROL OF RHODOCOCCUS We wrote about a year ago about ou.. http://bit.ly/66GZGC
Conservation Biological Control http://cli.gs/S7ATj
ecampusnet (Campus Net) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:39:26 -0000
Conservation Biological Control http://cli.gs/S7ATj
Application of partially-desiccated entomopathogenic nematodes for biological pest control [5989543] http://bit.ly/6UyRb3
tweetalot (tweetalot) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:06:34 -0000
Application of partially-desiccated entomopathogenic nematodes for biological pest control [5989543] http://bit.ly/6UyRb3
"The truth: eating and weight gain is partly self-control, and partly biological." ~Tamara McClintock Greenberg, Psy.D.
Fitnessfun4kids (Christine ) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:36:32 -0000
"The truth: eating and weight gain is partly self-control, and partly biological." ~Tamara McClintock Greenberg, Psy.D.
Conservation Biological Control http://chilp.it/8ad09f
ecampusnet (Campus Net) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:45:12 -0000
Conservation Biological Control http://chilp.it/8ad09f
Nematode Information » Biological control of insect pests with ... http://bit.ly/6cUFgt
NewsGarden (RSS) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:58:14 -0000
Nematode Information » Biological control of insect pests with ... http://bit.ly/6cUFgt
Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers (ANBP) - A professional association representing the biological pest control industry.
Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit - Branch of the USDA that tests and imports exotic natural enemies of insect pests, using classical biological approaches.
Biocontrol Method for Reedgrass - Information on the use of pathogens to suppress reedgrass in reforestation areas.
Meta Description: [ The Canadian Forest Service in Ottawa, Ontario, The Canadian Forest Service promotes the sustainable development of Canada's forests and competitiveness of the Canadian forest sector. ]
Biological Control - Text and photographs describing the biological control agents of insect, pathogen pests, and weeds.
Meta Description: [ Text and photographs describing the biological control agents of insect, weed, and pathogen pests ]
Biological Control of Grasshoppers and Locusts - Information on the development of a microbial insecticide for grasshopper and locust control in Africa.
Biological Pest Control - Reference and application guide for the usage of insect parasitic nematodes Steinernema for pest control.
History of Biological Pest Control - Including specifics on the biological control of pests of medical and veterinary importance. The site is maintained by Dr. E. F. Legner.
Hylobius Transversovittatus - How New York state is handling its purple loosestrife invasion by the use of this introduced weevil.
Midwest Biological Control News - Discusses the use of insects to control crop, garden, and home pests. Includes an index and archived back issues.
Nematodes as Biological Control Agents of Insects - Information on how entomopathogenic nematodes can be used as biological agents of insects and the taxonomy and systematics of these nematodes.
Weed-feeders - Lists and describes in detail the available biological agents for weed control in the US.
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