Integrated Weed Management for Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Increased world population will demand more food production, less water-consuming crops, better crop production techniques and better strategies for weed control. More production with rational use of available resources should enhance food security. Here, we review weed management approaches, which vary from crop to crop, with focus on organic weed management, non-chemical weed control, cover crops and allelopathy. Weeding practice in any crop depends on crop factors such as position in rotation, plant spacing and architecture; on field factors such as soil type and weed seed bank history; and on seasonal factors, e.g. rainfall. Crop losses can be reduced by integrated weed management with resistant crop varieties, rational use of agrochemicals, biocontrol agents, allelopathic crops, crop rotation and better cultural practices. Complementary weed control methods include grazing, herbicide application, land fallowing, biological control, cover crops, inclusion of competitive ability of crops, mechanical weeding, sowing time adjustment, irrigation methods, mulching and intercropping.