An Insect-Proof Net Technique Can Help Reduce Pesticide Application on Vegetables

Pesticides are important in crop production. However, there has always been controversy about whether to use chemical pesticides. Recently, pesticides at sublethal concentrations have been proposed to be a major driver of the loss of insect biodiversity. (1) The book Silent Spring, written by Rachel Carson in 1962, aroused the public’s attention to the negative effects of chemical pesticides. (2) Nevertheless, food producers still have to use pesticides to meet the requirement of people for food. There have been numerous reports on the effects of pesticides on bees and biological control agents in recent years, and new biotechnologies are constantly trying to replace chemical pesticides. However, chemical pesticide application is still on the rise. Nevertheless, an insect-proof net (IPN) technique (Figure 1A), which is an underestimated technology and can help reduce pesticide application, should attract the attention of scientists. Figure 1. (A) Schematic diagram of vegetables in insect-proof nets. (B) Top (left) and inside (right) of insect-proof nets. The IPN technique is a traditional physical technique for insect control on citrus, rice, (3) sweet potato, (4) and other crops. For example, the use of IPNs can reduce virus-related seed degeneration in sweet potato, (4) by controlling Aphis fabae, Sitophilus oryzae, and Tribolium confusum. (5) However, inappropriate use of an IPN is the critical reason for failure. For instance, the hole size of IPNs was not suitable or the door was closed too loosely (Figure 1A), which allowed the insect to freely enter them; IPNs then became a fine habitat for insects. Today, the use of IPNs with appropriate apertures combined with refined and intelligent management measures can help reduce pesticide application throughout the entire growth period of crops, including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and even biological agents. IPNs can prevent pests from causing damage and reduce the occurrence of plant wounds, thereby reducing pathogen infection and its spread among the vegetables. In addition, IPNs can reduce the chance of weeds entering the protected area for vegetable cultivation through wind and water, because vegetables with short growth cycle (1–2 months) are harvested before the weeds matured. IPNs can improve the yield and quality of vegetables due to the lower level of insect damage, the shortening of their growth cycle, and the delivery of vegetables to market earlier due to the reduced feeding stress and change of microclimate on temperature, humidity, etc. (6) IPNs can reduce the pest feeding-induced production of defensive endogenous substances, e.g., tannins in vegetables, (7) which always lead consumers to feel astringent and bitter taste. IPNs also promote the growth of vegetables by avoiding the occurrence of aesthetic injury, e.g., spots from diseases and notches from pests, which improves the willingness of consumers to purchase vegetable products. IPNs can reshape the ecological environment around the planting area of vegetables. The population of pests outside the IPNs will gradually decline due to a lack of food. Meanwhile, natural enemies and other organisms in the surrounding environment will benefit without pesticide application. Therefore, these changes could promote the formation of a green and healthly ecological environment in the planting area. IPNs have recreated a new planting model for vegetables, which not only helps reduce pesticide application thereby delaying the developed resistance of pests and protecting pollinators, but also improves environmental safety and protects human health. The IPN technique has achieved remarkable results in the cultivation of fast-growing vegetables in China (Figure 1B), and the promotion area and experimental results have been amazing. It is believed that, with the integration of artificial intelligence and other technologies, its application in long growth cycle crops will also require further research. It is worth noting that farmers have to spend 37–67 dollars per acre to prepare IPNs. (8) In addition, farmers might need to buy and release bees, if their vegetables require pollinators, because the IPN blocks the entry of insect pests and pollinators at the same time. Combined with the local climate, technical standards suitable for crop cultivation using IPNs should be established according to local conditions. For example, during the process of crop production, how to combine artificial intelligence with the efficient use of the IPN technique while withstanding unfavorable weather, such as typhoons, high temperatures, high humidity, and heavy rains, is still worth studying. In addition, improving the quality of the material used to make IPNs will be one of the important factors in promoting the IPN technique in the future. This article references 8 other publications. This article has not yet been cited by other publications.