Understanding the problem or what might have caused it;
- Differentiate between a pest, a disease or a disorder
- Pest – insects(6 legs), mites(8 legs), small mammals(rats etc..)
- Diseases/Pathogens – Fungi, bacteria, viruses, and micro-organisms
- Non-infectious diseases (Temperature, Moisture, and light)
e.g Peppers requires less light than tomatoes
- Lack of Oxygen or CO2
- Pollution
- Soil/Water pH
- Phytotoxicity – burn caused by incorrect chemicals