Which of the following methods is NOT a mechanical control practice?

The method that is not considered a mechanical control practice is applying pesticides. Mechanical control practices focus on physical methods to manage pests or weeds by disrupting their life cycle, preventing their spread, or removing them without the use of chemicals.

Hand-picking insects allows for direct removal of pests from plants. Burning and burying are methods employed to eliminate plant debris or completely eradicate certain pest populations, while mowing can prevent pests from thriving by cutting down vegetation and reducing habitat.

In contrast, applying pesticides involves the use of chemical agents to control pest populations, which fundamentally alters the environment chemically rather than mechanically. It does not fall under the definition of mechanical control, which is characterized solely by physical manipulation or removal rather than chemical intervention.