Weed control

Weed Control

Weed control refers to the botanical component of pest management, which seeks to stop weeds, especially noxious or injurious weeds, from competing with desired flora and fauna, this includes domesticated plants and livestock, and in natural settings, it includes stopping non-local species competing with native, local, species, especially so in reserves and heritage areas.

Methods of Weed Control

Weed control is achieved by using various methods. These methods can be broadly classified into six categories: Preventive, Cultural, Mechanical, Biological, Chemical, and Integrated.

Preventive Weed Control

Preventive weed control involves actions taken to prevent the introduction, establishment, and spread of noxious weed species. This can include cleaning equipment to remove weed seeds, using certified weed-free crop seeds, and managing the borders of fields and roads to prevent weed establishment.

Cultural Weed Control

Cultural weed control involves modifying the environment, the condition of the crop or the behavior of the farmer to suppress weed growth and prevent weed problems. This can include crop rotation, intercropping, and altering planting dates.

Mechanical Weed Control

Mechanical weed control involves physically removing or killing weeds. This can include hand pulling, hoeing, plowing, and mowing. Mechanical methods also include thermal weed control like flame weeding and steaming.

Biological Weed Control

Biological weed control involves the use of organisms to control weeds. This can include insects, mites, nematodes, and pathogens that are natural enemies of the weed species. Biological control agents can be introduced to a weed population or their numbers can be enhanced through conservation methods.

Chemical Weed Control

Chemical weed control involves the use of herbicides to kill or inhibit weed growth. Herbicides can be selective (killing specific weed species while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed) or non-selective (killing all vegetation with which they come into contact).

Integrated Weed Control

Integrated weed control involves the use of two or more control methods in a coordinated, planned manner. The goal of integrated weed control is to manage weed populations over the long term, rather than simply eliminating the weeds present at a particular time.

See Also

• Pest management
• Herbicides
• Noxious weed