Nanotechnology to assist IPM
More often, farmers apply insecticides after the devastation by the pests, thus losing the crop yield as well as money spent on insecticide application. Therefore, timely application of insecticides is essential with appropriate selection of chemicals, especially when resistance to insecticide is low. Insecticide application should be done only when the population of the insect has reached the threshold level, which may cause economic loss. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, mechanical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks. IPM is the coordinated use of pest and environmental information with available pest control methods to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.The farmer also requires a significant degree of expertise to recognize and diagnose symptoms of problems from insects, fungal, bacterial or viral pathogens, or nutritional stress. Timing and extent of irrigation or fertilization for various areas of the plant crop can be simplified through nanotechnology.