Soil Nutrient Dynamics and Their Effect on Biological Pest Management

Biological control of pests dates to ancient China but is gaining significant attention as an alternative pest management method to chemical pesticide use in solanaceous crops today. Biological control agents can come in various forms such as bacteria, fungi, predatory mites, and entomopathogenic nematodes. Each of these organisms is essentially a predator of one or more crop pests. These pests can include insects like two-spotted spider mites and whiteflies or pathogens like Alternaria solani and Rhizoctonia solani which both affect crops like tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes. While most of these organisms are rather non-selective in their prey range, some only have preferences for one specific pest which will make it an excellent choice for the management of that pest. Aside from pest preferences, many of these organisms also have specific soil preferences. Some organisms thrive in soils with low fertility and help improve soil quality while managing pests, whereas others prefer nutrient-rich soils to perform their functions effectively. When selecting biological control agents, it is important to understand the agent, and its host/prey range and optimal soil conditions as this will ensure efficient pest management. It is also important to note that the use of biological control agents should be used as part of an integrated pest management approach. Integrated pest management seeks to use multiple methods of pest management to reduce the risk of resistance that can be caused by overreliance on one method.