As one of the world’s most important food crops, soybean is expected to produce high yields to meet the demand of the growing population. However, sucking pests like aphids, whiteflies, and stink bugs can damage soybean crops and cause significant yield losses. If you are a soybean grower, it’s important to know how to control these pesky insects. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Monitoring
Regularly inspect your soybean field for the presence of insect pests. Start monitoring from the early vegetative stage to the reproductive stage of the crop. Use sticky traps to capture and identify pest species and determine their population density. This will help you assess whether the pest population is above the threshold limit that warrants control measures.
2. Cultural practices
Implement cultural practices that promote a healthy soybean crop. These include good soil fertility, adequate irrigation, timely planting, and proper crop rotations. Healthy soybean plants can better tolerate pest attacks.
3. Biological control
Biological control involves using natural predators and parasitoids to control insect pests. Common biological control agents for sucking pests in soybean crops include lady beetles, lacewings, and parasitic wasps. You can introduce these beneficial insects in your soybean field or plant companion crops that harbor them.
4. Chemical control
Chemical control involves the use of insecticides to control pest populations. Use insecticides only when necessary and follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations. Make sure to choose insecticides that are specific to the target pest and safe to use on soybean crops. Avoid applying insecticides during bloom as it can harm pollinators.
5. Integrated pest management (IPM)
To effectively control sucking pests in soybean crops, adopt an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. IPM involves the use of multiple tactics, such as cultural practices, biological control, and chemical control, to manage pest populations. This approach minimizes the use of pesticides and promotes sustainable pest management practices.
In conclusion, controlling sucking pests in soybean crops requires vigilance, proper management practices, and integrated pest management. By implementing these measures, you can protect your soybean crop from insect damage and achieve high yields.