Terminology

Hydroponics:

Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, or mineral wool.

Plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plant's water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive. Almost any terrestrial plant will grow with hydroponics.
(Courtesy:Wikipedia)

Aeroponics:

Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium. Aeroponic culture differs from both hydroponics and in-vitro (Plant tissue culture) growing. Unlike hydroponics, which uses water as a growing medium and essential minerals to sustain plant growth, aeroponics is conducted without a growing medium.(Courtesy:Wikipedia)

Agroecosystem:
A relatively artificial ecosystem in an agricultural field, pasture, or orchard.

Biological control:
The use of living organisms, such as predators, parasitoids, and pathogens, to control pest insects, weeds, or diseases. This process typically involves some human activity.

Bt:
The bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis.

Entomopathogenic:
Insect-attacking organism.

Cole crops:
Crops such as cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other crucifers.

Cucurbits:
Vine crops such as cucumbers, melons, squash, and pumpkins.

Cultural control:
Pest management practices that rely upon manipulation of the cropping environment (e.g., cultivation of weeds harboring insect pests).

Genetic engineering:
The manipulation of the genetic material of an organism in order to achieve desirable characteristics.

Host:
The organism in or on which a parasitoid lives; a plant on which an insect feeds.

Hyperparasite:
A parasite whose host is another parasite.

Integrated pest management (IPM):
An approach to the management of pests in which all available control options, including physical, chemical, and biological controls, are evaluated and integrated into a unified program.

Trap crop:
A small area of a crop used to divert pests from a larger area of the same or another crop. The pests, once diverted to the trap crop, may be treated with an insecticide.

Hedge crop:
A row of closely planted shrubs, bushes, or trees forming a boundary or fence

Smother Crop:
When green manure is grown primarily to control the growth of weeds it is called smother crop. The green manure can be later ploughed into the soil.

Regards,
Vishnu Sankar
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