Mechanical, physical and cultural

Mechanical, physical and cultural control of pests, weeds and diseases (pests) are an integral part of a successful Integrated Pest Management plan.

Cultural controls are practices that reduce pest establishment, reproduction, dispersal, and survival. For example, crop rotation - replacing a susceptible crop with a less susceptible crop; and changing irrigation practices - less watering can reduce root disease and weeds.

Mechanical and physical controls kill a pest directly or make the environment unsuitable for it. For example, traps - for pest animals and insects; mulches - for weed management; steam sterilisation - for soil disease management; or barriers - such as screens or fences to keep animals and insects out.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development:

  • works with landholders and grower/community/biosecurity groups on control
  • provides diagnostic services and information on prevention, management and treatment
  • provides biosecurity measures to prevent introduction, and to eradicate or manage current pests

For advice on control methods search our website or contact our Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS).

Articles

  • Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is the main host for the seed-gall nematode Anguina funesta.

  • With lupins being susceptible and grown in close rotation to canola, particularly in the northern WA wheatbelt, lupin growers are facing increasing pressure from sclerotinia stem rot (caused by

  • Spot form net blotch (SFNB) has become increasingly more common due to the widespread cultivation of susceptible varieties, such as La Trobe, RGT Planet and Spartacus CL.

  • In Western Australia's Mediterranean-type climate, the survival of pests and diseases over summer is often critical in determining pest outbreaks and disease epidemics in broadacre crops.

  • Information is provided here to assist management of diseases and viruses that occur in broadacre crops grown in Western Australia - cereals (wheat, barley, oats and triticale), pulses (field pea,

  • The Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act) provides the authority for regulations to be made for the erection and maintenance of barrier fences as a means of controlling

  • When selecting a wheat variety to implement in a farming system, it is important to be aware of the variety's disease package to plan management options. The disease resistance ratings for wheat va

  • Big improvements in wild dog management and agricultural pest animal control resulted from funding through the WA Government's Royalties for Regions program.

  • Maintaining feed-on-offer at around 2 t DM/ha for four weeks around the Timerite® date in spring can effectively control RLEM in the following growing season.

  • Landholders planning to grow broadacre, horticulture or tree crops or to preserve native vegetation need to control rabbits first. This article provides information about options for rabbit control

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