Which of the following statements best describes cultural controls?

Cultural controls refer to practices aimed at modifying the environment to prevent pest populations from establishing or thriving. This can include a range of strategies such as crop rotation, the selection of pest-resistant plant varieties, adjusting planting dates, and managing irrigation and soil health. By focusing on the conditions under which pests thrive, cultural controls effectively reduce the likelihood of pest infestations without relying on chemical or biological interventions.

This approach emphasizes proactive measures that create an environment less conducive to pest survival, thereby reducing the need for reactive pest management strategies. While the other options involve different methods of pest management, they do not specifically address the alteration of environmental practices and cultural techniques aimed directly at minimizing pest problems in a horticultural setting.