Agronomy Degree Practice Exam

Which approach to pest management is likely to involve using organic methods like composting?

1. Biological pest management

2. Cultural pest management

3. Chemical pest management

4. Mechanical pest management

The correct answer is: Cultural pest management

Cultural pest management focuses on practices that enhance crop health and resilience while reducing pest populations through methods that improve the agricultural environment. This approach often includes the use of organic methods like composting, which enriches the soil with nutrients and improves soil structure, ultimately promoting healthier crop growth. Healthy plants are better able to withstand pest pressures, reducing the need for more aggressive pest control methods. Composting contributes to cultural pest management by recycling organic matter, which can suppress soil-borne diseases, improve nutrient availability, and increase the activity of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. These factors collectively help create a less conducive environment for pests, aligning with the principles central to this method of pest management. Biological pest management typically relies on the use of natural predators or parasites to control pest populations, which may not specifically involve composting. Chemical pest management, as the name suggests, primarily uses synthetic pesticides and thus does not align with organic methods. Mechanical pest management involves physical barriers or traps to control pest populations and similarly does not incorporate organic practices like composting.