Advances in Weed Control help Soil Conservation

Abstract

Weeds, from crop production point of view, are unwanted plants growing on agri- cultural land. Weeds have always becn a hindrance in agricultural operations and crop production. They offer different degree of competition to crops, varying from total crop failure to considerable reduction in yield, given the opportunity to do so. They compete with crop plants for soil moisture, nutrients, light and space. They harbour insect pests and diseases, reduce the value of agricultural land, affect animal and human health, aud impair the quality of milk and grain. It is believed that even during the earliest history of agriculture the need for controlling weeds was realized by the farmer. Digging and pulling were perhaps the earliest means of controlling weeds. Later, more elaborate field operations were deve- loped, a primary purpose of such operations being weed control. While, through such field preparations, as ploughing, etc., the farmer did achieve his objectives, he, at the same time, exposed the land to erosion hazards from rain and wind. Under natural condition such land being covered with vegetation and organic residues was protected from erosion. Inspite of the increased erosion losses from cultivated land the farmer had no other alternative since a more efficient way of achieving the objectives was not known till recently.