A Review on Sustainable Plant Disease Management through Integrated Approaches

Abstract

Plant diseases continue to pose serious threats to global food security, causing an estimated 10–16% annual yield losses in major crops and leading to economic damage exceeding USD 200 billion. Conventional disease management strategies relying heavily on chemical pesticides are associated with environmental pollution, resistance development, biodiversity loss, and food safety concerns. Integrated Disease Management (IDM) offers a sustainable alternative by combining host plant resistance, biological control, cultural practices, need-based chemical application, organic amendments, and advanced digital technologies. This review assesses the scientific basis, field performance, economic viability, and ecological relevance of IDM across cereal, horticultural, pulse, and oilseed crops. It highlights the critical roles of microbiome engineering, RNA interference, Nanoparticle-based protectants, precision agriculture, IoT-enabled monitoring, and climate-resilient cropping systems. Case studies demonstrate that IDM reduces pesticide use by 30–50%, increases yield by 10–25%, and improves benefit–cost ratios compared to chemical-only systems. Environmental advantages include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, enhanced soil organic carbon, improved microbial diversity, and lower chemical residues in food and water ecosystems. Key constraints such as farmer awareness, limited bioagent availability, regulatory gaps, and climate-induced disease shifts are critically discussed. The review emphasizes that large-scale success of IDM requires strengthened extension networks, policy support, quality biopesticide production, adaptive forecasting systems, and international collaboration. IDM stands as a scientifically robust, economically viable, and ecologically sustainable strategy to advance global food security and climate-smart agriculture.