Control of weeds general

The control of weeds with herbicides is standard practice on most farms nevertheless, it is worth remembering that other htrsbandry methods play an important part, especially with the increase in herbicide resistance problems and the hmited introduction of new products. Non-chemical methods of weed control are the only ones available to organic farmers. 

In some years, if there is enough soil moisture, stubble cultivatiorrs arrd the stale seedbed technique can be a useful aid to weed control. The soil is cirltivated ready to sow the next crop weeds are allowed to grow and are then killed before planting the crop. Inter-row cirltivations are still used in some crops, particularly if there is a difficult weed to corrtrol, such as weed beet in sugar beet, or where there ate limited herbicides approved for use, as in field vegetables. There is some interest in the use of in-crop weeders as a method of reducing herbicide inputs. 

Rotations. Growing leys and various arable crops that ate planted at different times of the year usually leads to a different weed flora. There is also an opportunity to use different types or groups of herbicides. This method is useful if there are difficult weeds such as barren brome, volunteer potatoes, herbicide resistant black-grass and weed beet to control. 

Maintenance of good fertility. Arable crops and good grass require a high level of fertility, i.e. the soil must be adequately suppUed with lime, nitrogen, phosphates, potash and organic matter. Under these conditions crops can compete strongly with many weeds. 

Crop seed rates. High seed rates and good crop establishment all help to reduce the impact of weeds. 

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