The pest density at which management action should be taken to prevent an increasing pest population from reaching the economic injury level is called Economic Threshold Level ( ETL ). Economic thresholds can be expressed in a variety of ways including the number of insects per plant or per square meter, the amount of leaf surface damage, etc. Pest population assessment and decision making are among the most basic elements in any integrated pest management (IPM) program. Economic thresholds help in taking decisions by providing guidance as to whether insect control will have an economic benefit. Economic threshold helps in reducing the use of pesticides and are one of the keys to profitable pest management. The development of economic thresholds requires knowledge of pests, their damage, the crop’s response to damage, and estimates of likely crop value and costs of control.
What is Economic Threshold Level ( ETL )?
