In integrated pest management, the economic injury level is defined as the level at which the cost of treatment equals what?

In integrated pest management (IPM), the economic injury level (EIL) is a critical concept that quantifies the threshold at which the cost of managing a pest population (through treatment measures) is balanced by the economic benefit derived from the crop. This means that the EIL represents the point where applying pest control measures costs as much as the financial loss that would occur without them.

When pest populations exceed the EIL, the potential for economic loss is higher than the cost of treatment, making it economically justifiable to implement control strategies. The focus is on maximizing profits by considering both the costs of control options and the anticipated losses if the pests are not managed effectively.

In this context, the other choices do not accurately represent the relationship defined by the EIL. Market value pertains to the price at which the crop can be sold but does not directly consider treatment costs. Crop yield indicates the amount produced, which could be affected by pests but not directly linked to the cost of treatment, and pest density simply refers to the number of pests present without factoring in the economic implications. Thus, the economic benefit—derived from better crop protection against the losses caused by pests—is the correct measure to equate with treatment costs at the EIL.