What is a benefit of using trap crops in pest management?

Using trap crops in pest management is effective primarily because they attract pests away from the main crop, which serves as a diversion tactic. By planting attractive crops that draw specific pests, farmers can reduce the pest population on their primary crops, leading to less damage and potentially lower pesticide use. This strategy effectively disrupts the pest lifecycle and reduces the pressure on the main crop, allowing it to grow more healthily and thrive with less competition from pests.

While other choices may have some level of truth, they do not specifically relate to the primary benefit of trap crops in pest management. For example, enhancing soil fertility or providing shade could be benefits of other agricultural practices but are not directly tied to the purpose of trap crops. Similarly, increasing crop yield might occur as an indirect result of improved pest management but is not a direct function of using trap crops.