Which practice would increase the likelihood of pesticide resistance?

Continual use of the same pesticides or pesticides from the same chemical class significantly increases the likelihood of pesticide resistance. When a specific pesticide or class of pesticides is repeatedly applied to a pest population, the pests that survive the application are typically those that have developed some level of resistance. This leaves behind a more resilient population that can reproduce and pass on their resistant traits to future generations. Over time, the effectiveness of the pesticide diminishes, as more pests become resistant to it, leading to a cycle where higher doses are required for effective control or alternative, potentially more hazardous methods must be employed.

In contrast, rotating different types of pesticides, incorporating non-chemical methods, and implementing varied pest management strategies are all practices that can help manage pest populations in a sustainable way. These approaches promote diversity in control methods, thus reducing selection pressure for resistance and helping to maintain the effectiveness of pesticides over time.