Which method is commonly used to establish pest population levels in IPM?

Monitoring is the method commonly used to establish pest population levels in Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This process involves regularly checking for the presence and number of pests in a specific area to assess their population density and to identify any potential threats to crops or plants.

Effective monitoring can include techniques such as visual inspections, traps, and sampling methods, which provide vital data that help inform management decisions. By understanding pest population levels, horticulturists can apply control measures more effectively and in a more timely manner, thereby reducing the likelihood of significant crop damage.

Other methods like extermination focus solely on killing pests rather than assessing how many are present, while training pertains to educating individuals on pest management practices. Forecasting, while useful for predicting pest outbreaks based on environmental conditions, does not provide a direct assessment of current population levels. Monitoring creates a foundation for making informed IPM decisions, ensuring that interventions are targeted and proportionate to the actual pest pressure observed.