Biological control: How natural predators improve crop yield

2HARVEST | www.2harvest.nl

Every pest has a natural predator. While many farmers use chemicals to rid their greenhouses of pests, using these natural predators instead has significant benefits.

What is biological control

When pesticides were first invested, they appeared to be a great solution for protecting crops from pests. However, it was soon discovered that the more you use pesticides, the more resistant pests become. Farmers must spray chemicals more often and may need to switch to more toxic chemicals periodically.

Additionally, the chemicals in pesticides are also harmful to plants. Studies show that after spraying, plants stop growing for at least one day. If a farmer sprays once a week, they lose 10%-15% of plant growth.

In response, farmers started exploring a different method for controlling pests in greenhouses. In natural ecosystems there is a balance between predators and prey. If farmers can create the right balance in their greenhouse ecosystem, they have a natural method for controlling pests. This is called biological control.

Advantages of biological control

Farmers using biological control experience several advantages that can lead to optimal yield and better business results. Here are a few of the benefits.

• Long-term solution: Natural ecosystems can survive for hundreds of years because of the equilibrium inside. The same goes for greenhouses using biological controls. If the right balance is obtained, this is an indefinite solution that farmers can rely on. There is no need for constant changes to maintain the equilibrium.
• Cleaner crops: Plants and crops are chemical-free, which is becoming preferable to distributors and consumers. Consumers are willing to pay more for cleaner crops and the demand for them is growing. Additionally, there are some products that cannot be protected with chemicals. For example, if you use bees for pollination at your farm, chemicals will harm them.
• Improved yield: Pesticides cost growers 10%-15% of growth. With biological control, plants grow bigger and faster meaning there is a greater yield of quality crops.

How to implement biological control in your greenhouse

Using biological control in a greenhouse is all about finding balance. You need to find the right equilibrium in your environment.

Step 1: Stop using chemicals

To use biological control, you must reduce chemical use as much as possible. Chemical use will destroy your natural predators and topple your equilibrium. It may take time to completely rid a greenhouse of chemicals. The residue might remain for up to two years before it completely disappears. However, once you decide to use biological control, it is better to stop or minimize chemical usage.

Step 2: Bring in natural predators

Every pest has a natural predator. You should know what pests are present in your greenhouse and import their predators. For example, if you have aphids in your greenhouse, you might bring in ladybugs, parasitic wasps, or birds. There are guidelines for how many natural predators to release in your greenhouse, but it is recommended to err on the side of caution. Bring in more than you think you’ll need. The expense of extra natural predators is much less than the costs of too many pests. The security and safety of your crops is worth the extra investment.

You must remember that natural predators need the pests to survive. Pests are their food so if you bring in too many natural predators, an equilibrium will be created based on the amount of their food source.

Step 3: Scout and monitor

With biological control, it is very important to frequently and accurately monitor the ecosystem you created in your greenhouse to ensure the equilibrium is maintained. A new development is the use of cameras; however, it can be tiring to watch for pests on cameras.

A proven and efficient method is to use sticky cards that catch insects. Based on what you catch, you can extrapolate how many pests and natural predators are present in your greenhouse.

You must also monitor plants for growth. If you see that crops are getting destroyed by pests, you might need more natural predators. It’s important to map your greenhouse and strategize how to monitor it. A good scouting and monitoring system will leave you with fewer surprises, meaning less work and higher efficiency.

The value of cleaner products

Today, supermarkets and consumers are becoming stricter about what products they accept. People are more aware of chemicals and their unhealthy effects on the human body. As farmers, we have a responsibility to provide healthy and safe products to consumers. We also have a responsibility to protect our environment by not introducing poisonous chemicals.

While this is an important thing for the environment and our planet, it is also great for business. The higher demand for greener products means that distributors and retailers are willing to pay higher prices. This is a relatively simple way to create more value in your farming business and increase profits.

This method is for you if you want to create a better world and make more money doing it.