Soybean pest management

Abstract

Abstract The rapidly growing world population and rising cost of fossil fuel has caused the increase in importance of soybeans as a source of high protein food and quality vegetable oil. The area planted with soybeans is not likely to increase greatly because of geographic adaptation and environmental limitations. Any large increase in the quantity of soybeans, therefore, must come from increases in yield per unit area, that is, increased production efficiency. Part of this can be accomplished by improved pest management systems that use cultural, mechanical, biological, ecological, and chemical methods to reduce the 30% loss caused by insects, weeds, and diseases. Pest control strategies are discussed.