What does cultural pest management primarily involve?

Cultural pest management primarily involves the modification of the environment to improve conditions that make it less conducive for pests to thrive. This approach includes practices such as crop rotation, selecting pest-resistant plant varieties, managing irrigation effectively, and adjusting planting times to disrupt the life cycle of pests. By altering the environment or agricultural practices, this method aims to prevent pest infestations before they occur rather than relying solely on control measures after pests have become a problem.

While other methods like chemical application, biological control, and physical removal can be effective, they are distinct strategies that react to pest problems rather than proactively preventing them through cultural changes. Thus, cultural pest management emphasizes building a healthier ecosystem that minimizes the likelihood of pest outbreaks through thoughtful management practices.