Which cultural control practice reduces pest pressure by changing crop rotation or planting dates?

• A. Chemical spraying
• B. Mechanical tillage
• C. Crop rotation
• D. Genetic modification

Answer: (C)

Cultural control relies on adjusting farming practices to make the environment less friendly for pests. Rotating crops interrupts the pest life cycle by removing the same host from a field in the same location for a period, so pests that depend on that crop lose a steady food source and their populations decline. Changing planting dates adds another layer by avoiding times when pests are most active or when conditions favor their development, further reducing pressure on the crop. Among the options, rotating crops directly implements a shift in which crops are grown over time, which is why it best reduces pest pressure. The other choices—using chemical sprays, tillage, or genetic modification—do not involve altering the crop sequence or planting timing in the same way.