Cultural and physical practices for pest control were utilised long before the advent of chemical control methods. The goal is to make the crop environment less suitable for insect pests, or spatially manipulate pest populations by repelling or trapping to prevent them establishing where they may cause crop damage.
These practices can minimise pest attack and achieve partial or complete pest control. Their effectiveness is often underestimated and not fully utilised.
Control methods include:
- Host plant characteristics
- Farm management
- Novel products
Further information
- Cultural methods of insect control (McGill University)