Page 3 - 2. Lesson_notes_-Crop_protection_management

These factors cause degradation in quality, loss in weight, poor germinability,

discolouration of produce, poor marketability, and economic loss.
Preventive and control measures to be used before storage of food grains:

• Drying: The harvested food grains should be dried by spreading them over
plastic sheets or on cemented floor. All the sun-dried food grains can cool to

the room temperature before storing them.

• Cleaning and maintenance of hygiene: The grains and other agriculture
produce should be properly cleaned before their storage. They should be filled

in new gunny bags before keeping in godowns, warehouses or stores. The bags
should be absolutely dry and clean. They should be free from dirt, webbing, etc.

• Safe and proper storage: Godown, warehouses and stores should be

thoroughly cleaned, dried and repaired.
• Fumigation: Those pesticides which can destroy insects by forming toxic

fumes are called fumigants and process of their use is called fumigation.
Fumigants may be solid, liquid or gaseous. Examples:

1. Aluminium phosphate (solid fumigant)
2. Ethylene dichloride-carbon tetrachloride (EDCT) (liquid fumigant)

3. Methyl bromide (gaseous fumigant)

Plant Disease Management

• Pathogenic diseases are another type of crop-damaging factors.

• Microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and viruses affect different parts of the

crop through various means.

• Crops could be protected from these diseases by using pesticides
and biocontrol agents.