Answer :
The economic threshold in pest management is the point at which the cost of pest damage outweighs the expense of controlling the pest population. It involves a cost-benefit analysis to prevent both unnecessary treatment costs and potential harm to the environment. Action is taken when control measures will increase profits by protecting the value of the potential harvest. Thus, Option the point at which pest-management techniques are first used is Correct.
The economic threshold in pest management refers to the point at which the cost of pest damage outweighs the expense of controlling the pest population. This is a critical concept in Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a strategy aimed at early detection and management of pests to maintain damage at tolerable levels, thereby preventing both unnecessary treatment costs and potential harm to the environment. Economic thresholds are based on many factors including the amount of pest damage, the cost to the grower, potential value of the harvest, and environmental considerations.
For instance, in tree fruit farming, if the capture of codling moths in pheromone-trapped exceeds a certain number, this indicates the necessity for control measures to prevent significant economic losses. It's this balance of cost versus benefit that determines when action should be taken, rather than automatically resorting to pest control after seeing the first signs of pests. The economic threshold is the line that once crossed, signifies that pest control measures will now increase profits by protecting the potential harvest value from further damage. Thus, Option the point at which pest-management techniques are first used is Correct.
