pestsides

Types of Pesticides

There are different types of pesticides for getting rid of different pests.

• Herbicides kill weeds
• Insecticides kill insects that eat plants and crops
• Fungicides kill any bad fungi

Effects of Pesticides

Pesticides are used to kill pests, but many are bad for human health. They may pollute water, and go into rivers, lakes, and ponds. This will cause acid rain, and organisms living in the water can get sick and die, because the water where they live has more acid.

Alternatives

In many cases, there are alternatives to the use of (chemical) pesticides. These include:

• Use of genetic engineering
• Release of other organisms to control the pests, such as predators or parasites. That way, ducks can be used in rice fields to act against snails, for example
• Some foods can be processed and used to control certain pest
• Use of polycultures, that is growing many different crops together, rather than just one crop

types of pesticides

• Insecticides – insects.
• Herbicides – plants.
• Rodenticides – rodents (rats and mice)
• Bactericides – bacteria.
• Fungicides – fungi.
• Larvicides – larvae.

Why We Use Pesticides

Pesticides are used to control various pests and disease carriers, such as mosquitoes, ticks, rats and mice. Pesticides are used in agriculture to control weeds, insect infestation and diseases.

There are many different types of pesticides; each is meant to be effective against specific pests. Some examples include:

• Algaecides to kill and/or slowing the growth of algae.
• Antimicrobials to control germs and microbes such as bacteria and viruses.
• Disinfectants to control germs and microbes such as bacteria and viruses.
• Fungicides to control fungal problems like molds, mildew, and rust.
• Herbicides to kill or inhibit the growth of unwanted plants, also known as weeds.
• Insecticides to control insects.
• Insect Growth Regulators to disrupt the growth and reproduction of insects.
• Rodenticides to kills rodents like mice, rats, and gophers.
• Wood Preservatives to make wood resistant to insects, fungus and other pests.

Fertilizers

Fertilizers are used daily by farmers and families to help crops and gardens grow. Whether for a small garden of flowers and plants, or a large farm with thousands of acres of crops, a wide range of fertilizers have been developed to help different crops grow in different soil and weather conditions.

Chemical ingredients help create fertilizers that promote plant growth and are cost effective, too. Commercial and consumer fertilizers are strictly regulated by both individual states and the federal government to ensure that they are safe for the people who use them, people nearby, and the surrounding environment.