Weed management/control

Chemical, cultural, and mechanical weed control practices have been relatively successful ia reducing yield losses from weeds (448). However, herbicide-resistant weed populations, soil erosion, pesticide persistence ia the environment, and other problems associated with technologies used (ca 1993) to control weeds have raised concerns for the long-term efficacy and sustainability of herbicide-dependent crop production practices (449). These concerns, coupled with ever-increasing demands for food and fiber, contribute to the need for innovative weed management strategies (450). 

Nonchemical or traditional practices, such as weed seed removal, optimal crop seeding rates, crop selection, enhanced crop competitiveness, crop rotation, and mechanical weed control are all important components of an effective weed management program (458,459). In the context of modern intensive chemical herbicide appHcation, nonchemical practices may even represent an innovative approach to weed management and should receive careful consideration. 

Adupiion by the agricultural community requires that ait innovative weed management agent must be an effective control of the large species, he... 

Crop safety, drift injury to nontarget plants, and hazards to the environment and the operator contributed to the complexity of weed management decisions. Products with difficult handling characteristics or narrow tolerances for crop injury were put aside as improved herbicides became available. Weed scientists were struggling to learn when and how to best control weeds and how to best convey information to growers about this important emerging agricultural discipline. 

Herbicides have resulted in a great improvement and diversity in weed management techniques among the various crops grown in North America. An example closely correlated with the triazine herbicides is that of row crop production in the Midwest. If we follow the trends of com and soybean production, we see how the management of weed control has evolved in response to economic, cultural, and social influences and needs. Because the State of Illinois... 

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