Sustainable management in agriculture includes weed control methods. The weed control methods are socially acceptable, environmentally begin, and most importantly cost-effective. This article will explain to you different objectives and approaches that are used in several weed control options.
Objectives:
The several basic objectives of sustainable weed control at Contact Organics are listed below:
- To safeguards and enhance natural resources
- To produce high quality and safe food
- To enhance the quality of soil
- To develop various cultivation methods
- To reduce the use of non-renewable resources and maximize the use of renewable resources
- To provide sufficient financial reward to framers
- To recycle the mineral resources
- To use the proper skills, knowledge, and technology
Approaches:
The major approaches that are involved in sustainable weed management are cultural, mechanical, and biological.
Cultural: the practices which are taken to maintain and control the field conditions and to prevent the establishment of weeds.
- Intercropping:
Intercropping refers to the cultivation of 2 or more corps on the same piece field, to utilize more area and to produce the greater yield. Intercropping reduces total weed density and weed biomass.
- Crop Rotation:
Crop rotation Includes growing the series of different types of crops in the season after season. It reduces pest and weed pressure and decreases the probability of weed generation.
Mechanical: the practices which include the use of technology and various types of equipment can be considered as a mechanical approach.
- Soil Solarization:
The method is used to kill or weaken the weeds and other pests with the help of solar energy. It is a non-chemical and environmentally friendly method. Soil solarization depends upon time, temperature, and most importantly the soil.
- Use of weeders:
Weeders are equipment that eases the removal of weeds and pests from the soil. Machines such as mini weeders, power tillers, mini tractor-drawn rotavator are helpful in the removal of weeds in wider spaces crops.
- Mulching:
Mulching refers to the applying of a material layer on the surface of the soil. Mulching is responsible for the moisture of soil, improving the fertility of the soil, and the health of the soil. It removes the weed growth and improves the appearance of the area. The process is used in both gardening and crop production
Biological: the techniques which involve the use of natural enemy of weed plants to control the germination of weeds, is considered as biological approaches.
- Bio-Fertilizers:
Biofertilizers carry living microorganisms that help the crop plants in getting nutrition. Biofertilizers rebuild the soil’s natural cycle. Biofertilizers can be expected to replace the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- Bio-herbicides:
Bio-herbicides are made up of micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and certain insects that can fertilize the soil and can target weeds. Bio-herbicides helps in controlling weeds without harming the environment. The selective herbicide can kill the unwanted weed without harming the plant.
- Allelopathic plants:
Allelotropy is a direct or indirect effect by one plant that contains microorganisms on another that influences the growth and development of the neighboring plants.
