Integrated pest management in connection with soil disinfestation

Pest and disease management aims to reduce pest infestation by manipulating one or more of the biotic or abiotic components involved in the disease with minimal disturbance to the environment and natural resources. All sources of inoculum have to be managed. Integrated pest management (IPM), which is a holistic approach that, in addition to effective pest control, takes into consideration environmental, social, economic and regulatory issues, provides tools to address these issues. IPM has to be compatible with crop management. Combining methods of control, such as chemical, non-chemical, biological and cultural, concomitant with a reduction in pesticide use, is a major pillar of the IPM approach. Soil disinfestation, especially when drastic fumigants are used, should take into account soil suppressiveness and avoid having a detrimental effect in it. Soil health, decision-making tools, knowledge transfer, interactions with pesticides, risk assessments, adopting an appropriate method of application and adapting IPM to each cropping system are additional issues which should be further considered when planning IPM programs for soil disinfestation.