Certified Crop Advisor Practice Exam

Which of the following is important in many disease management programs?

1. Crop rotation

2. Pest scouting

3. Fertilizer application

4. Soil sterilization

The correct answer is: Crop rotation

Crop rotation plays a vital role in many disease management programs because it helps disrupt the life cycles of pathogens and pests associated with specific crops. By alternating different crops in a given area over time, farmers can reduce the prevalence of diseases that thrive when the same crop is grown repeatedly. This practice not only decreases the population of disease-causing organisms in the soil but also enhances soil health and fertility, promotes biodiversity, and can lead to improved crop yields. It minimizes the risk of diseases that would otherwise become entrenched in a monoculture system, ultimately leading to a more sustainable agricultural practice. While pest scouting, fertilizer application, and soil sterilization are important components of broader agricultural practices, they don't specifically address the long-term disease pressure that can build up from continuous cropping. Pest scouting is essential for identifying and managing pest populations, fertilizer application is necessary for providing adequate nutrition to crops, and soil sterilization, although effective in controlling certain pathogens, is not a feasible or sustainable option for every farming scenario. Therefore, crop rotation is a strategic and economically sensible approach in managing crop diseases effectively.