Which method helps prevent pest establishment and survival?

Cultural control is a method that plays a crucial role in preventing pest establishment and survival by manipulating the environment, farming practices, and cultivation methods to enhance crop health and reduce pest populations naturally. This includes practices such as crop rotation, selecting pest-resistant plant varieties, adjusting planting times, and maintaining soil health. By making the environment less conducive to pest survival, cultural control practices help reduce pest pressure and minimize the need for chemical interventions.

The other methods listed, while they may have relevance in pest management, do not specifically focus on the proactive prevention of pests. Chemical control, for instance, involves the application of pesticides, which may target existing pest populations but doesn't prevent their establishment in the first place. Intensive tillage can disrupt soil structure and potentially promote the emergence of certain pests rather than prevent them. Meanwhile, watering techniques might help manage moisture levels but do not inherently alter pests' potential to thrive unless they are integrated into a broader pest management strategy. Overall, cultural controls are foundational in preventing pests from becoming established, making them a key aspect of effective integrated pest management.