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<p>Pest control is critical to agricultural production and protects agronomic yield from damaging pest populations. Threshold-based programs, where insecticides are only applied when pest densities exceed a pre-determined population, can reduce agrichemical inputs. However, the impacts of these programs are poorly characterized and case-specific. To assess the broader impact of threshold-based insecticide programs for arthropod pests in agriculture, we conducted a meta-analysis of 126 studies reporting 466 trials in 34 crops where thresholds were compared to calendar-based (i.e., weekly or pest-independent) insecticide programs and/or untreated control. Threshold-based programs reduced insecticide applications by 44% and associated costs by 40%, without compromising pest control or overall yield compared to calendar-based programs. Threshold-based insecticide programs featured higher beneficial insect abundance and provided similar levels of arthropod-vectored disease control. Given the extent and consistency of these benefits, greater policy and financial support are needed to encourage this practice in agriculture.</p>

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Threshold-based management reduces insecticide use by 44% without compromising pest control or crop yield

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月27日

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  • Ashley Leach,
  • Arnol Ariel Gomez,
  • Ian Kaplan

摘要

Pest control is critical to agricultural production and protects agronomic yield from damaging pest populations. Threshold-based programs, where insecticides are only applied when pest densities exceed a pre-determined population, can reduce agrichemical inputs. However, the impacts of these programs are poorly characterized and case-specific. To assess the broader impact of threshold-based insecticide programs for arthropod pests in agriculture, we conducted a meta-analysis of 126 studies reporting 466 trials in 34 crops where thresholds were compared to calendar-based (i.e., weekly or pest-independent) insecticide programs and/or untreated control. Threshold-based programs reduced insecticide applications by 44% and associated costs by 40%, without compromising pest control or overall yield compared to calendar-based programs. Threshold-based insecticide programs featured higher beneficial insect abundance and provided similar levels of arthropod-vectored disease control. Given the extent and consistency of these benefits, greater policy and financial support are needed to encourage this practice in agriculture.