The document discusses the importance of pesticides in agriculture, highlighting their role in combating various pests that threaten crops and livestock. Pesticides are classified based on the type of pests they target and their physiological effects, including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and others. It also describes different types of pesticides, such as gastrointestinal poisons, contact poisons, and natural plant pesticides.
The document discusses the importance of pesticides in agriculture, highlighting their role in combating various pests that threaten crops and livestock. Pesticides are classified based on the type of pests they target and their physiological effects, including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and others. It also describes different types of pesticides, such as gastrointestinal poisons, contact poisons, and natural plant pesticides.
The document discusses the importance of pesticides in agriculture, highlighting their role in combating various pests that threaten crops and livestock. Pesticides are classified based on the type of pests they target and their physiological effects, including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and others. It also describes different types of pesticides, such as gastrointestinal poisons, contact poisons, and natural plant pesticides.
The document discusses the importance of pesticides in agriculture, highlighting their role in combating various pests that threaten crops and livestock. Pesticides are classified based on the type of pests they target and their physiological effects, including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and others. It also describes different types of pesticides, such as gastrointestinal poisons, contact poisons, and natural plant pesticides.
Agriculture is an inseparable part of human civilization. It provides food, shelter, an
various commodities for livehood. Various new technologies have been developed in agriculture to increase the production of crops and vegetables as well as to improve the quality of agricultural products. Meanwhile, agriculture has been facing several diseases and harms by different insects, organisms, weeds, rodents, and other creatures. At present 11,000 species of insects, 700 species of weeds, 1,700 types of plant diseases, and 1600 species of nematodes are found to be injurious to man, plants and animals in one or another way. These insects, micro-organisms, and animals together are called pest and the chemicals which are used for killing them are collectively called pesticides. Some of the pesticides are used to harm, and interfere with the reproduction and normal lives of insects and pathogens associated with agriculture. Nowadays, pesticides have become essential tools for agriculturists and urbanites. An agriculturist uses the pesticides for killing insects, pathogens, weeds and related organisms whereas an urbanite depends upon them for control of algae in swimming pools, weeds, in his lawns, hosts in gardens and lawns, household spray for ants, aerosols for flies and mosquitoes, soil and wood treatment for termites, controlling of rodents, repellents for insects and mosquitoes etc.
Classification of pesticides
Pesticides can be classified broadly on the following two bases:
1. On the basis of types of pests
2. On the basis of physiotherapy
1. On the basis of types of pests
Pesticides cover a wider range based on their use against various pests. Broadly these are classified into the following types:
a. Insecticides
The pesticides used to kill various insects are called insecticides. These may be chlorinated hydrocarbons, organophosphates, carbamates etc. Some of the commonly used insecticides dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT), benzene hexachloride (BHC), aldrin ethylene dichloride 2
etc. pyrethroids have wide applications as household insecticides against mosquitoes, cockroaches and flies.
b. Fungicides
The pesticides which either kill or inhibit the growth of fungi are called fungicides. Fungi are parasitic lower plants those lack chlorophyll. The include molds, rusts, mildews, mushrooms etc. These fungi destroy plants in different stages. Some of the commonly used fungicides are blue vitriol, aluminium phosphide (AlP), Bordeaux mixture (CuSO4 + CaO), Chloropicrin (CCl3NO2), hexachlorobenzene, pentachlorophenol, pentachloronitro benzene etc. Fungicides may be of two types, i.e. protective and curative fungicides. The protective fungicides check the infection of fungal strains whereas the curative fungicides kill or destroy the developed fungi in the plant bodies.
c. Herbicides or Weedicides
These are popular pesticides in agricultural practice being used to kill weeds or herbs without harming the crops. Several aliphatic and aromatic organic compounds have been used as herbicides. Some of the commonly used herbicides are 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid), 2,4,5-T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid), atrazine etc. These herbicides may be selective or general in their applications. Eg 2,4,5-T is used to control woody plants whereas 2,4-D is effective against various weeds.
2. On the basis of physiotherapy
The pesticides damage the pest organisms or the weeds through the different physiological actions. On the basis of the physiotherapy, the pesticides are classified into the following types:
a. Gastrointestinal poisons
These are the pesticides used against the organisms and are toxic only if ingested. They damage the gastrointestinal system of the pests. For e.g. sodium fluoride, lead arsenite, calcium arsenite etc.
b. Contact poisons 3
Some pesticides show their action when coming in contact with cells of the pests by penetrating them and called contact poisons. For e.g. DDT, BHC, aldrin etc.
c. Respiratory poisons
The chemicals which are highly volatile and thus poison the air being used for respiration of the pests are termed respiratory poisons. These are effective against all types of organisms but must be used in a confined space.
d. Repellents
These chemicals repel insects or organisms rather than killing them. They are used against mosquitoes, blood-sucking flies, plant pests etc.
e. Chemosterilants
The chemicals which inhibit the reproduction of pests are called chemosterilants. These pesticides do not killinsects and pests.
f. Plant pesticides
Some plants possess pesticide chemicals and thus act as natural pesticides. These substances either kill or repel the insects and pests which come in contact with these plants or nearby them. For eg the nicotine from the tobacco plant, rotenone from derris, pyrithrins etc are some good example of plant pestcides.
