3C Importance of Weeds in Agricultural Production
3C Importance of Weeds in Agricultural Production
3C Importance of Weeds in Agricultural Production
IN AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTION
WHY STUDY WEEDS?
Weeds are one of the major problems in crop production, just like
diseases and insect pests.
They provide direct and indirect effects that lead to loss of crop
yield.
Losses due to weeds are not as easily seen as in insect damage and
losses due to diseases.
When weeds are allowed to grow unchecked, losses ranging from
20% to 100% are common.
Complete crop loss is possible if the farm is not properly managed.
Losses Caused by Weeds
Most of the weeds complete their life-cycle within a very short time
when compared to the crops in which they occur.
Weeds generally absorb and transpire more water than most crop
plants.
Certain weeds require water to the extent of about three times that
of the crop.
Weeds restrict the root growth and volume of the cultivated crop
plants.
Weeds like Chenopodium album are the common hosts for stalk
borer, beetles and cutworm which later migrate to crops like
potato, tomato, maize, gram, peas, etc. and damage them severely.
Weeds Interfere with Crop Culture
The weeds like nutsedge make the hay or straw less palatable to
animals.
Weed seeds like wild mustard, Mexican poppy mixed with wheat
grains or edible mustard cause objectionable odor to the flour and
can even prove to be poisonous.
Weeds Harm Animal Health
Weeds like poison ivy, poison oak cause severe itchy rashes and
dermatitis; many others cause hay fever and allergic reactions.
Farmers have realized that they cannot afford to lose time on the
time-consuming manual weed control when intensive and multiple
cropping program is followed and hence desired to control weeds in
the early stage of crop growth by applying herbicides, particularly
in row-crop production.
The herbicides developed are in common use for selective and non-
selective weed control in different areas. However, careful
evaluation is needed to see their residual effect on the ecosystem.
Thank you….