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Agriculture vocabulary · Pests, Diseases and Weeds

Pesticide

Meaning in agriculture, with examples

/ˈpestɪsaɪd/nounCore term

In agriculture, pesticide means: A chemical or biological product used to kill or control pests, weeds or plant diseases; the general name for insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and similar products.

In Turkish: pestisit, tarım ilacı, zirai ilaç, bitki koruma ürünü

How it is used

Used in regulation, food safety, trade and advisory work. Farmers apply or spray pesticides; buyers check pesticide residues. EU and Turkish regulations use the official term 'plant protection product', while farmers simply say 'ilaç'.

Example sentences

  1. The buyer rejected the lemons because of pesticide residues above the limit.

  2. Always read the label before you mix a pesticide.

Common collocations

  • apply a pesticide
  • pesticide residues
  • pesticide label
  • pesticide use
  • registered pesticide
  • herbicideA chemical product used to kill weeds or stop them from growing, either before or after they come up through the soil.
  • fungicideA product used to prevent or control diseases caused by fungi, such as powdery mildew, rusts and blights.
  • insecticideA product used to kill or control insects that damage crops, stored grain or animals.
  • pre-harvest intervalThe minimum number of days that must pass between the last pesticide application and the harvest, as stated on the product label.
  • sprayTo apply a liquid such as a pesticide or foliar fertilizer onto crops in small drops, using a sprayer.

More terms: Pests, Diseases and Weeds

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