In the context of pest management, which of the following is an example of chemical control?

The correct answer is applying pesticides because this method involves the use of chemical substances specifically designed to target and manage pest populations. Chemical control in pest management focuses on the application of materials that can effectively kill or repel pests, thus reducing their numbers and preventing damage to crops or plants.

Pesticides can come in various forms, including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and others, each targeting different types of pests. The effectiveness of this method often depends on selecting the right pesticide for the specific pest problem, as well as proper application techniques to minimize any potential environmental impact.

In contrast, hand-weeding is a cultural practice focusing on physical removal of weeds, pheromone traps utilize chemical signals to attract pests for monitoring or trapping rather than elimination, and adjusting watering schedules primarily addresses plant health and pest pressure indirectly by creating less favorable conditions for pests to thrive. These methods fall into other categories of pest management, such as cultural control or monitoring, highlighting that chemical control specifically refers to the use of chemicals to directly combat pests.