IPMIntegrated Pest Management

John RoyalsInstructor Turfgrass Management Technology

Central Piedmont Community College

The optimization of pest population management in an economically and ecologically sound manner through the use of multiple tactics compatible in keeping pest damage below the aesthetic level

Definition IPM

•Monitoring

•Cultural

•Regulatory

•Physical

•Chemical

Tactics Used in IPM

Aesthetic Injury Level

Defined as the lowest population density of pest that will cause unacceptable aesthetic changes

Aesthetic injury level can vary depending on the value of the turf area

•Highway right of ways•Home lawns•Sports fields•Golf putting greens

Developing and IPM program

Step 1Identify key pest

•Weeds•Insects•Diseases

Key Weeds in Tall Fescue

•Crabgrass•Bermuda grass•Dallisgrass•Assorted broad leaf weeds

Crabgrass

Bermuda Grass

Dallisgrass

Key Insects in Tall Fescue

•Grubs•Army Worms

Key Diseases in Tall Fescue

•Brown Patch

Step 2

Define the turfgrass Management Unit- the turf ecosystem

The turfgrass managent unit

•A single lawn•Golf course•Southeastern USA

Size of turfgrass management unit depends on the mobility of the pest and its dispersal potential

Step 3Develop reliable monitoring techniques

Monitoring depends on our ability to accurately identify turf pest and measure the amount of potential loss that can be caused by each

Scouting must be done on a regular bases for weeds, insects, and diseases

Step 4Establish aesthetic thresholds

Thresholds level can vary•By level of maintenance (low, medium, or high)•Turfgrass grown•Type of pest present

You must also consider•Budget restrictions•Availability of water•Fertilizer•Pesticides•And other cultural materials or equipment

Step 5Develop descriptive and predictive models of what pest are most likely to occur, when the are expected to appear or become active, and the amount of damage they can cause

To develop a model for a pest we must know the:•Biology of the pest•Ecology of the pest•Epidemiology of the pest

JAN-FEB: Grub in winter cell.MAR-APR: Grub comes up near surface to feed.MAY: Grub forms cell and prepares to pupate.JUNE: Grub changes to pupa and then to adult, which emerges from ground.JULY: Beetle lays eggs in ground, preferably in grass sod.AUG: Eggs hatch. Young feed on living roots of plants.SEP-OCT: Grubs continue to feed and grow rapidly. Injury to roots of plants is most common at this time.NOV-DEC: Grubs are mostly full grown and go to depths 4 to 8 inches below surface to pass winter in earthen cell

Japanese Beetle

Time Disease Occurs

                                                                                                                 

Brown Patch

Brown Patch Pressure On Tall Fescue

Weed Life Cycles

•Annual•Biannual•Perennial

Step 6Develop an effective and economical turf management strategy

Turf areas need to be uniform to minimize variation in response to the program

•Front yard or back yard•Shaded areas•Wet areas•Different soil types•Etc

Management Tactics

Regulatory

Genetic

•Selection and use of adapted turfgrass species and cultivars with naturally occurring resistance to insects and/or diseases•Introduction of specific genes for resistance into a desirable turfgrass

Cultural

•Sanitation•Proper establishment of turf area•Mowing•Fertilization•Irrigation•Cultivation Practices

Biological

Living organisms that are natural antagonist, parasites, and predators

Examples•Bacillus popilliae (Milky disease)•Endophytes

Physical

•Traps•Surface and subsurface drainage•Control traffic

Chemical

•Herbicides•Fungicides•Insecticides

Summary

IPM : It is a systematic approach to managing pest, utilizing all control and monitoring methods

Summary continuedDeveloping an IPM program•Know your pests•Define the turf area•Be on the lookout (scouting)•Establish damage thresholds•Know when and where your pest are coming to visit•Develop and implement a turf management plan

Questions ?