Chapter 9: Weed Management Strategies
9.7 Summary
This chapter discussed how no single weed control method will be best for all field conditions, even on the same field year after year. Instead the field ecosystem is always adapting. Farmers will need to maintain good records and observation notes in order to know how to adjust for the next year. For most agronomic situations, we are usually not trying to eradicate weeds, but rather sustainably control them. In all situations, preventing weed problems whenever possible before they start is always the most effective.
Key Takeaways
Key takeaways from this chapter include:
- The goal of weed prevention is to eliminate the weed problem before it starts.
- The goal of weed eradication is to completely eliminate all of the weed’s plant population and seeds in a given area. This is typically only feasible in a greenhouse, golf courses, or home gardens. At commercial scale, it may be possible to completely eradicate small patches of a noxious weed, or other troublesome weed.
- The control strategy for weed management is not to completely eliminate the weed population, but rather reducing it to a level to where crops are not going to lose significant yields.
- There are five aspects to weed control: prevention strategies, cultural practices, biological control methods, mechanical control methods, chemical control methods.
- Integrated Weed Management (IWM) incorporates multiple methods of weed control as appropriate for a field site, while balancing economics and environmental impact with effectiveness against weed populations.
- The more variety implemented in weed management plans, the better.