Certified Professional Horticulturist (CPH) Practice Exam

What is not a common cultural weed control method?

1. Mulching

2. Tilling

3. Spraying

4. Pulling

The correct answer is: Spraying

Cultural weed control methods focus on practices that can minimize weed establishment and growth through management of the environment. This encompasses techniques that enhance crop health and inhibit weed proliferation. Mulching, tilling, and pulling are all methods that fit this approach well. Mulching involves applying a layer of material on the soil surface to suppress weed growth by blocking sunlight and retaining moisture. Tilling prepares the soil and can uproot or bury existing weeds, making it more difficult for them to thrive. Pulling, or hand weeding, directly removes weeds from the soil, disrupting their growth cycle and preventing seed spread. Spraying, on the other hand, typically refers to the application of herbicides, which is classified as a chemical control method rather than a cultural one. Therefore, it does not align with the principles of cultural control practices, which emphasize environmental and management techniques over chemical interventions.