The consumption of plant protection products in the background of changes in agricultural production

摘要

In years 1991-2009 a consumption of plant protection products (p.p.p.) in Poland significantly increased. Also, a significant increase was recorded in other European Union countries. The increase in the consumption of p.p.p. was strongly related to the changes in a cropping structure (in the analyzed period the share of rape and cereals strongly increased but root crops and forages decreased). The use of p.p.p. was also related to acreage structure of farms. Over 50% of small farms (1-5 ha) applied only one type of plant protection products. More types of p.p.p., characterized more complete chemical protection, were applied by large farms (about 25% of farms > 200 ha applied 5 types of p.p.p.). The most frequently used plant protection products wereherbicides followed by fungicides. The current status of plant protection should be reflected in the National Plan of Action.