Question

Explain various methods of weed control.

Answer 1

The various methods of weed control are:

(i) Mechanical methods - These include uprooting, weeding with trowel, hand hoeing, interculture, plowing, burning and flooding. In this process the weeds are mechanically removed from the soil before they grow and compete with the crops for nutrients.

(ii) Cultural methods - This includes the proper bed preparation, timely sowing of crops, intercropping and crop rotation. These are measures taken up by the farmers in the process of cultivation so that they can control the development of weeds with the crops.

(iii) Chemical methods - Herbicides and weedicides are sprayed on weeds to destroy weeds like 2,4-D. These are agents to control the generation of weeds in the soil and hence it can eradicate weeds even if they grow on the soil.

(iv) Biological methods - Biological methods of weed control involve the deliberate use of insects or some other organisms which consume and specifically destroy the weeds. These insects only affect the weeds and they must be selected properly in a manner that they never affect crops.

Example - Opuntia can be controlled by using cochineal insects in Maharashtra.