Final answer:
To prevent insect and rodent infestations, using pest resistant cultivars and interplanting with crops like maize or wheat, along with physical traps using lamps and poplar twigs, are effective methods. Additionally, conserving natural predators plays a critical role in ecological pest management.
Step-by-step explanation:
To prevent insect and rodent infestation, two effective methods are:
- Utilizing pest resistant cultivars and practicing interplanting strategies, such as combining cotton with wheat or maize. These techniques discourage pest colonization and promote a diverse ecosystem that can naturally regulate pest populations.
- Employing simple physical traps, like using lamps and poplar twigs, which can entice and eliminate adult pests, thus reducing their overall numbers and the potential for infestation.
Additionally, the conservation of natural predators is an invaluable strategy. Encouraging species that provide natural pest control—like birds, parasitic wasps, and other predators—enhances the ecological balance and reduces the reliance on chemical interventions. Farming methods that emphasize the use of specific plants to repel pests or the strategic application of pesticides to protect these natural enemies can contribute significantly to pest management and environmental health.