Which of the following methods is NOT considered mechanical pest control?

The correct answer is applying chemical herbicides, as this method involves the use of chemical substances to control pests and weeds rather than physical means. Mechanical pest control techniques focus on physical actions or devices that directly target and manage pest populations without the use of chemicals.

Plowing the soil can disrupt pest habitats and prevent weeds from establishing. Hand-pulling weeds is a manual method of removing unwanted plants and can effectively reduce competition for resources. Crop rotation helps in pest management by altering the environment and disrupting pest life cycles. These methods rely on physical intervention rather than chemical applications, distinguishing them from chemical herbicides, which utilize specific chemicals to achieve pest control.