Mechanical methods have problems of leaving behind weeds especially within inter rows and chemical methods have issues of environmental pollution, side effects on consumers, and the vital one to consider weeds over time may develop resistance to chemicals.
A good but difficult question to answer. Generally speaking the best answer to this question is prevention/integration. Broad categories for weed control can be classified as chemical (use of herbicides), mechanical (use of machinery, flaming, hand weeding etc.), biological (use of biological agents/natural enemies of weeds), preventative (use of clean seed, keeping machinery clean after each field operation, irrigation ditches clean etc.), cultural (competitive cultivars, seed rates, cover crops etc.) and integration of two or more of the above. Control of particular weed species (e.g. palmer amaranth, johnsongrass, barnyardgrass etc.) depends on the cropping system (e.g. organic vs. conventional) , intensification of the production, available herbicide options (i.e. avoid herbicide resistance evolution), environmental concerns etc. Independently the husbandry method it is a challenging task that needs an expert's opinion before proceed to action. Long term plans usually act as a barrier to future weed infestations.
Thanks..,yes... the integration of two or more weed control methods sound good..
Information is needed for field weed management:
What is the crop?
Weed species of field?
Which species of weeds are dominant?
crop growth stage?
Cultivated area?
What is the next crop?
After receiving information, a weed management program including mechanical, chemical, biological and … could be suggest.
also
Weed control programs in previous years?
Which herbicides did apply previous years?
Which species are resistant to herbicides?
To have a Weed Management program do I have to use my experience or they is a method or procedures available to create it. I mean I have the information on most of the above questions..if there are any reading materials or links please help me..
Dear Chenamani
I think you can find some information in extension service of US universities. also for chemical control "pesticide manual' and msds and labels of herbicide have applicable and useful information specially their ability in weed species control, herbicide carryover, and so on.
you can find other ways and methods as mechanical, physical, biological and ... in different weed science books and publications.
Thanks a lot Saeed Yaghoobi. I have found some information, I hope some day I will pass it to others...
If the weeds are annuals, in California we use grass straw mulch for the annual grass and biennial broadleaf weeds, and use bean family and sunflower family straw when available, after the seeds have shed.
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