Agronomy Degree Practice Exam

Which method of pest management uses chemicals to manage plant pest populations?

1. Biological pest management

2. Cultural pest management

3. Chemical pest management

4. Mechanical pest management

The correct answer is: Chemical pest management

Chemical pest management specifically utilizes pesticides and other chemical formulations to control and manage pest populations that may affect plant health. This method is effective for quickly reducing pest numbers and can be deployed in various agricultural settings, from large-scale farming to horticulture. In chemical pest management, various types of chemicals, including insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, are applied to target specific pests. These chemicals can disrupt the life cycles of pests, eliminate them directly, or create barriers to prevent their access to crops. This method is especially valuable when pest populations exceed economic thresholds, necessitating rapid action to protect the crop yield and quality. While other methods, such as biological, cultural, and mechanical pest management, have their own roles in an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, they do not primarily rely on chemical means to control pests. Biological pest management focuses on using natural predators or parasites, cultural management involves altering farming practices to reduce pest establishment, and mechanical pest management includes physical removal or barriers to control pest populations. Each of these methods has its benefits, but chemical pest management directly involves applying chemicals, making it the correct response to the given question.