The importance of diagnosis and prognosis in integrated plant protection

Abstract

The diagnosis at plant level requires a sound training and further education on the part of the farm manager. Combined with extension work, almost all problems are solvable today. With regard to a stepped-up introduction of integrated plant protection, however, it should be noted that for a certain transitional period the improved diagnosis will entail an increased use of plant protection agents until the actual relevance of the respective infestation can be more effectively restricted. Afterwards, the benefits of a better diagnosis and prognosis will have a positive effect. It is important that the diagnosis methods are methods which are as simple as possible and do not take up much time. The current farm sizes, in general, do not allow time-consuming diagnostics on the farm. The ratio between the costs for the use of plant protection agents and the yield and quality risk clearly shows that uncertainties tend to be compensated by the use of plant protection agents today. Frequently, the results of counting, measuring and assessing are scientifically corroborated and available for application. Yet, it is only after a considerable delay that they are put into practice. Furthermore, to what extent harmful organisms have adapted or shifts in the population or species inventory have taken place is not systematically monitored at the farm. As a rule, we only gain insights when resistances against specific plant protection agents occur. The currently prevailing stability rests essentially on the good co-operation between practice and extension work. This brings us round to the second field.