| Weed control aims at checking the growth or reducing the number of weeds to a minimum so that they do not affect crop yields. For successful control of weeds, one has to consider points like life-cycle of the weeds, weed characteristics, mode of reproduction, soil condition, habitat and location, farm practices, critical period of crop weed competition, etc.Critical stages of crop growth for weed control | ||
 This period indicates the critical crop growth stage during which the field must be kept weed free. The weeds, if uncontrolled, could cause great reduction in crop yields. Critical stages of crop growth are – at the time of transplanting or sowing and at the time of flowering and bearing fruit. Methods of weed control:Measures taken in this method do not allow the weeds to appear in the cropped areas and that is why these methods are called preventive methods. Therefore, one should remember to:use clean seedsavoid using sand or soil from weed infested areasalways use rotten and decomposed organic manureavoid movement of cattle from weed infested areas to clean areasclean all farm implements and machinery properly after their use in weed infested areaskeep irrigation and drainage channels free of weedskeep farm fences, roads and bunds cleanCurative or remedial measures:Control measures: These methods do not eradicate weeds but check the growth or reduce the number of weeds to a minimum so that they do not affect crop yield. The measures adopted for weed control are listed:Mechanical methods:Hand pullingHoeingTillageMowingFloodingBurningWith non-living materials (mulching)Cropping and competition methodsCrop rotationKind of cropUse of fertilizersDate and rate of plantingChemical methodsSelective herbicides: kills only weedsNon-selective herbicides: kills all the plants |
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