Molecular Soil Biology 2024, Vol.15, No.3, 118-128 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/msb 123 Figure 2 The role of rice fields in pesticide-related environmental risks (Adapted from Gamaralalage et al., 2021) Imagine caption: (A) Total EIQ-FUR of site 1. (B) Total EIQ-FUR of site 2. (C) Total EIQ-FUR of site 3. (D-F) Distribution of EIQ values for consumer, worker, and ecology components for the three sites in the Deduru Oya irrigation scheme (Adapted from Gamaralalage et al., 2021) 7 Sustainable Alternatives to Pesticides 7.1 Integrated pest management (IPM) strategies Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic approach that combines various pest control methods to minimize the use of synthetic pesticides and reduce their environmental impact. IPM strategies in rice cultivation include cultural practices, use of resistant varieties, biological control, and chemical methods as a last resort. The implementation of IPM has shown to be effective in reducing pesticide use while maintaining or even increasing crop yields. For instance, in Indonesia, the adoption of IPM technology led to a significant reduction in pesticide use, demonstrating its potential for sustainable agriculture (Veres et al., 2020). IPM has been successfully implemented in various Asian countries, resulting in reduced pesticide imports and stable rice production (Dhakal and Poudel, 2020). 7.2 Biological control methods and natural predators Biological control involves the use of natural predators, parasites, or pathogens to manage pest populations. This method is environmentally friendly and can be integrated into IPM strategies. For example, the use of
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