What is the term for practices used to disrupt pest living conditions, such as removing food and shelter?

The term that refers to practices aimed at disrupting pest living conditions, such as removing food sources and shelter, is cultural control. Cultural control involves modifying agricultural practices and habitats to make them less conducive to pest infestations. This could include crop rotation, adjusting planting schedules, or employing sanitation methods to prevent pests from thriving. By focusing on the environment rather than solely on direct pest control measures, cultural control addresses the root causes of pest problems.

Chemical control is centered on the use of pesticides, biological control involves utilizing natural predators or parasites to manage pest populations, and mechanical control includes physical methods like traps or barriers. Each of these approaches serves a different purpose, whereas cultural control is specifically about altering the environment to reduce the chances of pest establishment and proliferation.