What type of control involves the rotation of crops and using tilling to manage pests?

Cultural control is a key strategy in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that involves the use of farming practices to alter the environment in a way that makes it less conducive to pest populations. By rotating crops, you disrupt the life cycles of pests that may become established in a single crop type. This practice can prevent pests that are specialized to certain plants from building up in the soil or surrounding areas, thereby reducing their prevalence in subsequent growing seasons.

Tilling is another cultural practice that can be used to manage pests. It helps break up pest habitats, bury pests or their eggs, and can also improve soil health, which contributes to the overall resilience of the crop against pest infestations. The combination of crop rotation and tilling helps maintain a balanced ecosystem in the soil, promotes biodiversity, and encourages the natural enemies of pests, further enhancing pest management efforts.

In contrast, biological control involves using natural predators or parasites to control pest populations, mechanical control refers to physical methods like traps or barriers to manage pests, and chemical control focuses on using pesticides to eliminate pests. Each of these options addresses pest management differently than cultural practices, highlighting the importance of farming techniques in creating environments unfavorable for pest development.