Certified Crop Advisor Practice Exam

Which sampling technique is most effective for determining the spread of a certain pest in a field?

1. Continuous monitoring

2. Randomized plots

3. Quadrat sampling

4. Selective sampling

The correct answer is: Randomized plots

Randomized plots are particularly effective for determining the spread of a certain pest in a field because this technique helps to eliminate bias in the sampling process. By using randomized plots, a crop advisor can ensure that samples are taken from various locations throughout the field, which can provide a more representative assessment of pest distribution. This method allows for capturing variability within the field, accounting for differences in pest populations that might occur due to factors such as soil type, crop variety, or microclimate variations. Achieving a random sampling pattern helps in accurately estimating the average density of the pest and identifying hotspots where intervention may be necessary. In contrast, continuous monitoring can be resource-intensive and might not provide the spatially diverse data that randomized plots can. Quadrat sampling is useful for studying ecological distributions and may not be as effective for mobile pests. Selective sampling focuses on specific areas of interest, which could lead to overlooking significant pest populations in other parts of the field. Overall, randomized plots give the most comprehensive overview for analyzing pest spread.