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17 <br /> D. MAEMNANCE <br /> PLANT PROTECTION AND NUTRITION <br /> 1. Employ the principles of Integrated Plant Management (IPM), <br /> a system that relies on a combination of common sense <br /> practices of preventing and controlling pests (e.g., weeds, <br /> diseases, insects) in which monitoring is utilized to identify <br /> pests, damage thresholds are considered, all possible <br /> management options are evaluated and selected control(s) are <br /> implemented. IPM involves a series of steps in the decision- <br /> making process: <br /> a. Through regular monitoring and record keeping, identify the <br /> pest problem, analyze the conditions causing it, and determine <br /> the damage threshold level below which the pest can be <br /> tolerated. <br /> b. Devise ways to change conditions to prevent or discourage <br /> recurrence of the problem. Examples include: utilizing <br /> r improved (e.g., drought resistant, pest resistant) turfgrass <br /> varieties, modifying microclimate conditions, or changing <br /> cultural practice management programs. <br /> c. If damage thresholds are met, select the combination of control <br /> strategies to suppress the pest populations with minimal <br /> environmental impact, to avoid surpassing threshold limits. <br /> Control measures include biological, cultural, physical, <br /> mechanical, and chemical methods. Biological control <br /> methods must be environmentally sound and should be_. _ <br /> properly screened and tested before implementation. <br /> Non-chemical control measures should focus on practices such <br /> as the introduction of natural pest enemies (e.g., parasites and <br /> predators), utilizing syringing techniques, improving air <br /> movement, soil aerification techniques, and mechanical traps. <br /> 10 <br />