Which practice is essential for effective cultural pest management?

Planting a variety of crops is essential for effective cultural pest management because it promotes biodiversity, which can disrupt pest life cycles and reduce the chances of pest outbreaks. Diverse cropping systems can provide natural enemies of pests with habitats and food sources, thus enhancing biological control. Additionally, when multiple crops are grown, it becomes less likely that a single pest can thrive and reproduce unchecked, as different crops may require different resources or are susceptible to different pests. This practice can lead to healthier ecosystems and reduced reliance on chemical controls, aligning well with integrated pest management strategies.

Other practices, like over-fertilizing or neglecting sanitation, often contribute to pest problems rather than mitigate them. Regularly moving crops to different locations can help prevent soil-borne diseases but is not as fundamental as planting a variety of crops in building a resilient agricultural system.