The second edition of Pesticide Application Methods has been fully revised to provide up–to–date information on the different types of application techniques and how they should be used to ensure efficient and effective pesticide control, thus reducing environmental impacts. Detailed information is provided on the role of chemical control in crop protection, discussing targets, formulations and droplets, spray quality and the choice of nozzles, improvements in the design of new equipment and safety precautions and maintenance issues.

Offers comprehensive coverage on methods of actually improving pesticide application, focusing on the need for better timing of techniques in relation to pest attacks so that chemical control can be integrated with other methods. Describes diverse types of machinery available, their use and maintenance as well as safety precautions and how to select machinery most suited to one's needs. Also discusses the formulation of pesticides, new controlled droplet application, nozzles, aerial methods and much more.

Pesticides continue to provide an important tool in integrated pest management (IPM) programmes. Hitherto IPM programmes have had a strong bias towards insect control, but farmers need to control weeds, plant pathogens and other pest problems.This book follows the author's successful “pesticide application methods” by relating the equipment needs to the overall pest control requirement of major crops. It outlines the pest problems against which farmers are using pesticides and focusses on the details of the application techniques they need to optimise pesticide use.Much attention is now being given to genetically modified crops, but these do not necessarily avoid the use of pesticides. Some are engineered to be resistant to certain herbicides, so the use of these herbicides will still require careful application in order to minimise environmental side effects. Similarly, crops engineered for resistance to certain insect pest species may remain susceptible to other pests, thus emphasising the need for crop monitoring and careful use of any chemicals to avoid disrupting biological control.

Many of the pesticides applied to food crops in this country are present in foods and may pose risks to human health. Current regulations are intended to protect the health of the general population by controlling pesticide use. This book explores whether the present regulatory approaches adequately protect infants and children, who may differ from adults in susceptibility and in dietary exposures to pesticide residues. The committee focuses on four major areas: Susceptibility: Are children more susceptible or less susceptible than adults to the effects of dietary exposure to pesticides? Exposure: What foods do infants and children eat, and which pesticides and how much of them are present in those foods? Is the current information on consumption and residues adequate to estimate exposure? Toxicity: Are toxicity tests in laboratory animals adequate to predict toxicity in human infants and children? Do the extent and type of toxicity of some chemicals vary by species and by age? Assessing risk: How is dietary exposure to pesticide residues associated with response? How can laboratory data on lifetime exposures of animals be used to derive meaningful estimates of risk to children? Does risk accumulate more rapidly during the early years of life? This book will be of interest to policymakers, administrators of research in the public and private sectors, toxicologists, pediatricians and other health professionals, and the pesticide industry.

Although chemical pesticides safeguard crops and improve farm productivity, they are increasingly feared for their potentially dangerous residues and their effects on ecosystems. The Future Role of Pesticides explores the role of chemical pesticides in the decade ahead and identifies the most promising opportunities for increasing the benefits and reducing the risks of pesticide use. The committee recommends R&D, program, and policy initiatives for federal agriculture authorities and other stakeholders in the public and private sectors. This book presents clear overviews of key factors in chemical pesticide use, including: Advances in genetic engineering not only of pest-resistant crops but also of pests themselves. Problems in pesticide useâ€"concerns about the health of agricultural workers, the ability of pests to develop resistance, issues of public perception, and more. Impending shifts in agricultureâ€"globalization of the economy, biological "invasions" of organisms, rising sensitivity toward cross-border environmental issues, and other trends. With a model and working examples, this book offers guidance on how to assess various pest control strategies available to today's agriculturist.