A Series of Lectures ByMr Allah Dad Khan Provincial Director IPM KPK MINFAL Pakistan

3. Farmer Field Schools
(Agro ecosystem analysis
(AESA))
A Series of Lectures
By
Mr. Allah Dad Khan Provincial
Director IPM KPK MINFAL
Pakistan

4. Agronomic Data
Weekly
Plant Height
# of leaves/plant
# of flowers/plants
# of fruits/plants
Weight of harvested
fruits
Plant Protection
Data
Weekly
Counting insect
pests
Counting natural
enemies
Diseases incidence
General Data
Weekly
Variety
Days after
planting
Weather
conditions
Soil
conditions
Agro-ecosystem Analysis (AESA)

5. Agro ecosystem analysis (AESA)
The health of a plant is determined by its environment. This environment includes abiotic factors
(i.e. sun, rain, wind and soil nutrients) and biotic factors (i.e. pests, diseases and weeds). All these
factors can play a role in the balance, which exists between herbivore insects and their natural
enemies. If we understand the whole system of interactions, we can use this knowledge to
reduce the negative impact of pests and diseases.
• Decision making in Integrated Pest Management requires a thorough analysis of the agro-
ecosystem. Participants in IPM training will have to learn how to observe the crop, how to
analyze the field situation and how to make the proper decisions for their crop management.
This process is called the Agro-Eco-System Analysis (AESA).

6. Concepts of AESA
In an IPM FFS, facilitators guide farmers in carrying out agro-ecosystem analysis.
 The process entails small groups of participants collecting data from field studies,
discussing the findings, and arriving at a consensus for IPM crop management
using the information as the basis for field management decisions.
 Agro Ecosystem Analysis (AESA) is done weekly following the stages of crop
development as to provide in depth knowledge of the crop as well as all the
factors that affect it and develop observation skills.
 Discussions on observations and “what if” scenarios within and between small
groups as well as in a bigger group of field school participants encourage critical
thinking skills.
 The process of working in groups fosters team building and is valuable for
establishing farmers groups that will continue to work together beyond the field
school.
 The goal of agro ecosystem analysis is to develop skills in crop ecology
observations and assessment which will assist farmers to make intelligent and
sound crop management decisions.

7. Agro-Ecosystem Training
Cucumber Cropping Calendar
Ismailia, Winter Season
October November December January February
Preplant Seedling Growth Flower Fruit-Set Harvest
Climate protect young plants
from strong winds
preferred temperature: day 24o
/night19o
rH should not sink below40-50%
preferred temperature: day 20o
/night16o
rH should not sink below40-50%
preferred temperature:
day 27o
/night27°
keep tunnels closed for
germination only
ventilate tunnels, particularly after sunrise to avoid water on the leaves at any time
keep tunnels closed at night
Soil  use fine-structured, well
aerated organic soils
 use 20-40m3
manure to
increase organic matter
 add 50-100 kg sulfur to
lower alkalinity
 plant 2-3 cm deep
 keep soil warm to assist
germination
remove weeds
Water use well drained soils
with high water holding
capacity
irrigate lightly and regularly, preferably in the morning hours
avoid water logging and periods of water stress
Nutrients
N 50 kg Ammon. Sulfate
P 100 kg Super Phosphate
K
Ca 50 kg Calcium Nitrate
Microelements
Protection Favorable Conditions: Control Measures:
Downy Mildew 20-25o
C
90-95% rH
Protective:Cu-oxichloride
Curative: systemic
Powd. Mildew 20-25o
C
75-85% rH Micronized Sulfur/water
Spider Mites warm and dry
Micronized Sulfur
Aphids
K-soap
Cultural
Practices
do not growcucumber
repeatedly in the same
field to avoid nematodes
use 1.5 kg seeds/fd
6-8000plants/fd
1-2 plants/m2
clip tips to encourage
side shoots
cut out old, diseased
leaves
50 kg Potassium Sulfate 50 kg Potassium Sulfate
50-100 kg Super Phosphate
Use TX6 Nozzles for best coverage
Crop Calendar
L J
Water
Beneficials
Cultural
Practices
Nutrients
PestsWeather
Soil
Plant
Ecosystem Analysis

8. TOF/FFS Crop Cycle Activity Chart
L
Land
Preparation/
Group
formation
AESA
Insect
Zoo
Special
topic
AESA
Insect
Zoo
Group
Dynamics
AESA
Insect Zoo
Group
Dynamics
S Topic
AESA
Insect Zoo
Group
Dynamics
Data
Analysis

9. 1.OBSERVATION
Steps in Agro-Eco System Analysis
2.RECORDING
3.DISCUSSIONS IN
SMALLGROUPS 4. DRAWING

10. The methodology of AESA
A. Field Observations: Go into field in groups.
a) Enter the field at least 5 ft. away from the bund. Select a site with a
dimension of 1 sq. mt. randomlyin crops ( 10 plants in veg)
b) Record visual observations in following sequence:-
1. Flying insects (both pests & defenders)
2. Close observation on pests and defenders which remain on the plants.
3. Observe pests like borers and defenders like Lady Bird beetle/ rove
beetle/ earwigs by scrapping the soil surface around the plants.
4. Record disease and its intensity.
5. Record insect damage in percentage
6. Rates and damage by them
7. Weeds and their intensity
8. Water and its situation in field
9. Weather condition sunny /cloudy

11. The methodology of AESA
• c) Record parameters like number of leaves, branches, plant height and
reproductive parts of the selected plants which should be flagged for making
observation in the following weeks.
• d) While walking in field , manually collect insects in plastic bag .
• e) Record soil conditions viz. flooded, wet or dry.
• f) Observe rodent live burrows.
• G)Collect plant parts with disease symptoms.

12. B. Drawing:
 First draw the plant with actual number of branches/ leaves etc. at
the centre on a chart.
 Then draw pests on left side and defender on the right side.
 Indicate the soil condition, weed population, rodent damage etc.
 Give natural colours to all the drawing, for instance, draw healthy
plant with green colour diseased plant/ leaves with yellow colour.
 While drawing the pests and the defenders on the chart care should
be taken to draw them at appropriate part of the plant, where they
are seen at the time of observation.
 The common name of pest and defenders and their population
count should also be given along with diagram.
 The weather factor should be reflected in the chart by drawing the
diagram of sun just above the plant if the attribute is sunny. If
cloudy, the clouds may be drawn in place of sun. In the case of
partially sunny, the diagram of sun may be half masked with clouds.

15. C. Group Discussion and Decision making:
 Each group will discuss the situation and make a recommendation.
 A member of each group will now present their analysis in front of all participants. Make sure
that a different person will present each week.
 The facilitator will facilitate a discussion by asking guiding questions.
 The facilitator also makes sure that all participants (also shy persons or illiterate persons)
become actively involved in this process.
 Formulate a common conclusion. The whole group should support the decision on what field
management is required.
 Make sure that the required activities (based on the decision) will be carried out.
 Keep the drawing for comparison in the following weeks.

18. Some questions that can be used during the
discussion
 Summarize the present situation of the field?
 What aspect is most important at this moment?
 Is there a big change with last week? What kind of change?
 Is there any serious pest or disease outbreak?
 What is the situation of the beneficial insects?
 Is there a balance in the field between pests and defenders?
 Where you able to identify all pests and diseases?
 Do you think the crop is healthy?
 What management practices are needed at this moment?
 When will it be done? Who will do it? Make sure that responsibilities for
all activities are being discussed.
 Are you expecting any problems to emerge during the coming week?
What problems? How can we avoid it? How can we be prepared?
 Summarize the actions to be taken

19. D. Presentation
1.Presentations made by member of
each small group.
2.Participants ask questions of presenter.
3.Facilitator asks questions
appropriate to analysis
4.Groups discuss field conditions &
Agro-eco-system relationships.
5."What if" scenarios discussed.
6.Previous weeks Agro-eco-system
drawings used for comparisons.
7.Field management decisions
critically examined by group.
8.Other factors in addition to
economic thresholds are analyzed
(e.g. plant stage, natural enemies)
9.Facilitator uses leading questions to
help participants analyze what was
learned during activity.

20. AESA instead of ETL
• IPM is not a static concept but has been evolving over the past
years and it is still changing as new experiences are used to fine-
tune the concept.The Economic Threshold Level (ETL) used to be
part of IPM many years ago, but in modern IPM it has been
replaced by Agro-Ecological System Analysis (AESA) where farmers
take decisions based on a larger range of observations.
• Unfortunately, even today, there are still many “specialists” who still
recommend ETLs to farmers, presenting this as an IPM method. But
there are many reasons for not using an ETL.
• One of the problems of the ETL is that it is based on parameters
that are changing all the time, and that are often not known. An ETL
is calculated from:
• the management cost
• the price of the farm produce
• expected damage or yield losses

21. AESA instead of ETL contd
• Management cost could be estimated, but when the crop is still in the field, it is
usually not possible to know what the price per kilo will be at harvest time.
• The damage or losses caused by a certain density of insects can not be predicted
at all.. It depends on many other factors, such as crop variety, weather conditions,
availability of water and nutrients, plant stage, etc. It also depends on the
availability and performance of natural enemies. There is a big difference between
“a bean plant with 20 aphids” and “a bean plant with 20 aphids and 1 hover fly
larva”.
• This is why ETLs that are “recommended” in all kinds of manuals for farmers can
never be applied in a farmer’s field. Farmers cannot base their decisions on just a
simple count of pests. They will have to consider many other aspects of the crop
(crop ecology, growth stage, natural enemies, weather condition, etc.) and their
own economic and social situation before they can make the right crop
management decisions.
• Another important consideration is that good crop management does not only
depend on controlling pests, but even more on the prevention of pests. Over a
period of time, IPM specialist have realized the limitations of ETLs and gradually
developed the Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA) as a much more flexible tool to
make crop management decisions.

22. ETL Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA)
•cost of control
•harvest value of crop
(estimation)
•loss of income due to
pests (estimation)
Growth stage of the crop
weather conditions
crop development factors (incl.
compensation ability)
type and number of insect pests
type and amount of diseases
type and number of natural enemies
type and amount of natural disease control
agents (if applicable)
type and amount of weeds
water availability (irrigation, drainage)
soil fertility status
fertilizer applications
activities in the field since last week
other observations