Cultural control is a method of crop protection using careful timing and a combination of agronomic practices to make the environment less favorable for the increase of certain pests or diseases.
It includes practices such as tillage, planting (or transplanting), irrigation, sanitation, mixed cropping and crop rotation.
A principle of IPM is to “grow a healthy crop”. Cultural practices should therefore be adapted in such a way that the crop is in optimum condition.
In some situations, cultural control aimed against one pest may improve conditions for other pests. Furthermore, not only pests, but also defenders may be affected by changes in management practices. To be effective, the farmer therefore needs a thorough understanding of what is happening in the field.