Introduction and motivation
This project introduces a novel concept of pest management in closed spaces such as space farming.
Be it a bunker or space vehicle with very limited space to spare, plant cultivation would be a major task,
if the people inside the bunker/space vehicle are to survive for an extended amount of time.
This also includes enclosed or partly enclosed structures on farms such as silos, vats, tanks, pits, etc.
But, with closed space cultivation has its advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage is to produce vegetation in a lesser footprint. But there can be an issue of pests and plant decay.
- Pests: A pest is any animal or plant, harmful to humans or human concerns.
The term is particularly used for creatures that damage crops, livestock, and forestry or cause a nuisance to people, especially in their homes.
- Plant decay: Once a plant starts to decay, it can sometimes cause a chain reaction to infect the nearby plants by spreading the decay.
[image sources: google, wikipedia]
So pest management and decay management in confined or limited cultivation are very crucial.
Diseases, insects, and weeds can cause costly and irreparable harm to livestock and crops.
Methods to manage these problems include the use of pesticides or biological pest control.
Relevance
Damage from pests often results in vast economic consequences.
They threaten the health of our nation’s vital agricultural, natural lands, and urban areas. Among the adverse impacts are:
- Infestation of farms, rangelands, and forests
- Obstructions to streams and waterways
- Damage to crops
- Loss of wildlife habitats
- Disease and quality of life impacts in populated areas