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Plant Science Today (PST)

Review Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp9 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Chemigation for insect pest management: An established but under-utilised insecticide application technology

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.17297
Submitted
7 August 2026
Published
06-10-2026

Abstract

Insecticides play a key role in managing pests in agricultural and horticultural crops worldwide. Although several pest management approaches, including biological control agents, resistant varieties and behavioural manipulation, are widely adopted, insecticides remain indispensable when pest populations exceed economic threshold levels. The method of insecticide application is equally as important as the choice of the chemical itself. Although conventional foliar spraying has been widely practiced, it is frequently associated with limitations such as exposure of non-target organisms, operator risk and reduced application efficiency, depending on the insecticide and target pest. Chemigation, the application of insecticides through irrigation systems, has emerged as a promising alternative that minimises exposure of non-target organisms while improving the delivery of insecticides to the target zone. The availability of systemic and root-systemic insecticides has further enhanced the potential of chemigation as an effective, economical and environmentally safer approach for pest management in a wide range of crops. In addition to improving insecticide use efficiency, chemigation reduces labour requirements, spray volume and application costs while ensuring uniform distribution of insecticides through irrigation networks. Despite these advantages, its adoption is influenced by factors such as irrigation infrastructure, formulation compatibility, application technology and regulatory guidelines. This article comprehensively reviews the role of chemigation in pest management across different cropping systems, highlighting recent technological developments, specialised formulations, adoption trends in developed and developing countries, advantages and limitations for sustainable insecticide application. The review also identifies key knowledge gaps and research priorities, including the need for optimised chemigation strategies, improved pesticide formulations, standardised application protocols and a better understanding of environmental impacts and long-term sustainability.

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