Methods to Control Weed

Weed control is a component of pest control, which stops weeds. It is important in agriculture. Weed control has become a highly specialized activity in many events. Universities, as well as colleges, are providing agricultural degrees to the students and offer courses in weed control. Industries are providing the necessary technology to meet the purposes and objectives of weed control. Weed Control is crucial and essential for maintaining high levels of crop production in the agriculture sector because weeds decrease yields, increase production cost, lower product quality, impede irrigation water flow, interfere with pesticide application, harbor disease organisms, and interfere with harvests. Weeds also present difficulties as they are always in competition with cereal crops for water, mineral nutrients, and light.

General Categories of Weed Control

Weed control in crop production typically involves a wide range of techniques and methods. All weed control methodologies may be categorized into one or more of the main five categories. The five general categories of controlling weed are;

1. Cultural weed control

2. Preventive weed control

3. Biological weed control

4. Mechanical weed control

5. Chemical weed control

Cultural weed control

Cultural weed control refers to the methods that include maintaining field conditions, for example, crop rotation usage of well-adapted competitive species, maintaining good soil fertility, and avoiding overgrazing of pastures or rangeland.

Preventive weed control

This type of weed control refers to the control technique that has an objective to prevent weeds from being established in a cultivated crop, a greenhouse, or a pasture. Examples of this type usually use certified weed-free seeds. They make sure that farm equipment is clean before moving from one location to another and screening irrigation water to prevent weed seeds from traveling.

Biological weed control

This term refers to the method that includes the use of natural enemies of weed plants to control spread as well as germination of weed seeds.  This is the fastest expanding area to control weed with a number of examples. Examples include; sheep to control tancy ragwort or leafy spurge, the chrysolira beetle to control St. John's Wort, cinnabar moth, and the tansy flea beetle to control tansy ragwort, and the use of goats to control brush on rangeland.

Refer Mechanical weed control

Weed control refers to any technique that includes the use of farm equipment to control weeds is named mechanical weed control. Two mechanical weed control techniques commonly used are;

Tillage

Mowing

Chemical weed control

Technique refers to the application of a chemical herbicide (an agent for killing or inhibiting the growth of unwanted plants) to weeds, or soil to control the growth and germination of the weed species. Economically, chemical control of weeds is a huge industry and there are a number of chemical weed control products that may be used during this method.

Control Tips

Ensure that you read, understand, and follow all the given instructions on the label at the time of mixing and applying herbicides. Make sure the label clearly states the use of the product you have chosen.