WEED CONTROL METHODS

weed control methods. why should we control the growth in and around the farm of at home around our environment? There are several methods used in weed control. mechanical or physical method of weed control. list of weeds

Explain the meaning of weeds.

any plant or crops growing in a place that it is not wanted is called a weed. carefully read down and you will find out the following
Identify common weed types. 

Explain the harmful effects of weeds on crop plants
Enumerate various methods of controlling weeds.

 

weed control mthods

There are several methods used in weed control.

They can BE classified into:

(a) Mechanical or physical method.

(b) Cultural method.

(c) Biological method.

(d) Chemical method.

(a) Mechanical or physical method

1. Explain the meaning of weeds.
2. Identify common weed types.
3. Explain the harmful effects of weeds on crop plants
4. Enumerate various methods of controlling weeds.

(i) Hand pulling: 1 This is the pulling of weeds by hand in the farm. Though it is efficient, but only useful in small gardens and not large farms.

get a full list of botanical names of weeds here

WEEDS CONTROL METHODS

(ii) Hoeing: The short or small hoe is very useful in weeding. check out comprehensive function of a hoe It is used to cut the weed below the crown of the plant which gives, complete destruction of the shoot system.

It is effective in the Weed control methods control of weeds either in pasture, home garden or row crops. Hoe can be used to weed from the furrow to the top of a ridge. Its use is however on a limited and it requires plenty of labour.
Weed control methods

(iii) Mowing: This method helps to prevent seed production in till of weeds. It removes all unsightly weed growth especially where weeds are too much for effective cultivation to take place.

The method can be used to control weeds in lawns, plantation or fields. The mower is normally attached to a tractor or pulled by hand to move over the area to be cleared.

(iv) Flooding in Weed control methods: This is done by keeping the area to be weeded Hooded up to 20 cm of water for 3 to 8 weeks. This practice kill, the weeds because they can no longer receive air for respiration.

(v) Heat treatment: Heal can be used in controlling weeds. For instance nursery soil is sterilized to kill all weed parts and seeds. Fire ran be used to burn dry weeds on cultivated land before cultivation starts. Weed control methods.

you can read my post on cultural methods of weed control

(vi) Smothering with non-Living materials: Weeds can be Followed by the use of mulch materials such, as papers, hulls from rice, manure, plastic materials or cellophane. These materials help to exclude sunlight and prevent shoot growth. The weeds then become etiolated (lose chlorophyll) and die off.

(vii) Culural method: This involves the use of cultural practices of crop production to reduce the growth of weeds on the farm. Such cultural practices include

Weed control methods

i. Burning of farmland: This kills weed parts, seeds and fruits both in the soil and on the surface.

ii. Tillage: Tillage helps to expose weed parts for destruction by sun or herbicides. They can also be hand picked and destroyed.

iii. Early planting: This ensures that crops are well established before the weeds start growing.

iv. Good spacing: Proper spacing of crops helps in the reduction of weeds along the crop rows. It also makes it easy for weeding to he done.

v. Mixed cropping: Planting or two or more crops, together oil the same farmland can help to reduce the intensity of weeds on the farm

Biological method

This involves the use of living plants and animals to control weeds. They include:

(i) Use of suppressive plants: Crops that grow fast and large too can be used to overshadow weeds thereby reducing their growth, Also, cover crops such as melon and legumes like groundnut can be used to control weeds on the farm.

(ii) Use of insects: This involves the use of identified insect pests weeds in controlling weeds on the farm. Insects which have been found to feed on a particular weed can be multiplied and introduced to the area to feed and destroy such weed species.

(iii) Pasturing: This involves the grazing of farm animals on weeds usually in plantations such as rubber and oil palm. Animals like i cattle, sheep or goat are commonly used in this method.

Chemical method of weed control

This is the method that is used on a large scale. It makes use of chemicals in the control of weeds. These chemicals are known as herbicides. They are sprayed either on the leaves of weeds or applied to the soil. They are classified into:

(i) Selective herbicides: These are chemicals that can kill certain groups or species of plants. Example is 2, 4 -D (Dichlorophen-oxyacetic acid). They can be used in cereals, sugar cane and soya beans farms to reduce weeds.

Weed control methods
(i) Mowing: This method helps to prevent seed production in till of weeds. It removes all unsightly weed growth especially where weeds are too much for effective cultivation to take place. The method can be used to control weeds in lawns, plantation or fields. The mower is normally attached to a tractor or pulled by hand to move over the area to be cleared.
Weed control methods

(ii) Flooding: This is done by keeping the area to be weeded Hooded up to 20 cm of water for 3 to 8 weeks. This practice kill, the weeds because they can no longer receive air for respiration.

summary of Weed control methods

(iii) Heat treatment: Heal can be used in controlling weeds. For instance nursery soil is sterilized to kill all weed parts and seeds. Fire ran be used to burn dry weeds on cultivated land before cultivation starts.

(iv) Smothering with non-Living materials: Weeds can be Followed by the use of mulch materials such, as papers, hulls from rice, manure, plastic materials or cellophane. These materials help to exclude sunlight and prevent shoot growth. The weeds then become etiolated (lose chlorophyll) and die off.

(v) Cultural method: This involves the use of cultural practices of crop production to reduce the growth of weeds on the farm. Such cultural practices include

 CULTURAL PRACTICES OF WEED CONTROL

i. Burning of farmland: This kills weed parts, seeds and fruits both in the soil and on the surface.

ii. Tillage: Tillage helps to expose weed parts for destruction by sun or herbicides. They can also be hand picked and destroyed.

iii. Early planting: This ensures that crops are well established before the weeds start growing.

iv. Good spacing: Proper spacing of crops helps in the reduction of weeds along the crop rows. It also makes it easy for weeding to he done.

v. Mixed cropping: Planting or two or more crops, together oil the same farmland can help to reduce the intensity of weeds on the farm

Biological method of weed control

This involves the use of living plants and animals to control weeds. They include:

(i) Use of suppressive plants: Crops that grow fast and large too can be used to overshadow weeds thereby reducing their growth, Also, cover crops such as melon and legumes like groundnut can be used to control weeds on the farm.

(ii) Use of insects: This involves the use of identified insect pests weeds in controlling weeds on the farm. Insects which have been found to feed on a particular weed can be multiplied and introduced to the area to feed and destroy such weed species.
Weed control methods

(iii) Pasturing: This involves the grazing of farm animals on weeds usually in plantations such as rubber and oil palm. Animals like i cattle, sheep or goat are commonly used in this method. Weed control methods

Chemical method of weed control

Weed control methods
This is the method that is used on a large scale. It makes use of chemicals in the control of weeds. These chemicals are known as herbicides. They are sprayed either on the leaves of weeds or applied to the soil. They are classified into: Weed control methods

(i) Selective herbicides: These are chemicals that can kill certain groups or species of plants. Example is 2, 4 -D (Dichlorophen-oxyacetic acid). They can be used in cereals, sugar cane and soya beans farms to reduce weeds.
Some common garden weeds

Common names Botanical names

1 Guinea grass Panicumm maximum

2 Elephant grass Pennisetum purpureun

3 Tridax Tridax prociimbem

4 Carpet grass Axonopus compressus

5 Goose grass or Africana Cynodon dactylon

6 Siam weed Eluesine indica

Weed control methods
7 African or bush marigold Chromoleana odorata

8 Pig weed Aspilia Africana

9 Goat weed or blue top Boerhavia diffusa

10 Water leaf Ageratum conyzoides

11 Soft weed Talinum triagulare

12 Wild green Erogratis tenella 13. Stubborn grass 14. Igbologi 15. “Ichtei” 16. Dolukegu 17. Ebeleogu 18. Okpalieziza-Ike

13 Tropical kudzu Amaranthus spinosus

14 Centro Calapogonium mucunoides

15 Blue flower or water grass Centrosema pubescens

16 Spear grass Commelina spp

17 Striga Imperata cylindrical

18 Wild potato or moring glory Striga senegalensis

19 Broom weed Ipomea spp

20 Emilia Sida acuta

21 Giant star grass Emilia sonchifolia

22 Stubborn grass Cynodon nlemfuensis

23 Sensitive plant Sporobolus pyramidalis

24 Bur weed Mimosa pudica

25 Acanthospermum hisidum

READ THE FULL LISTS OF WEEDS AND THEIR BOTANICAL NAMES HERE

1. Blue feather——————————–Commelina nudiflora

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2. BAHAMA GRASS—————–Cynodon dactylon

BUR WEED—————————–Triumfetta rhumboidea

CALAPO———————————Calapagonium mucunoides

CARPET GRASS———————-Axonopus compressors

to understand the effect of leaching and liming, read here

READ ABOUT POULTRY FARMING AND BIRDS HERE

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CELOCIA——————————–Celosia rotundus

CENTRO———————————–Centrocema pubescens

DESMODIUM—————————–Desmodium Spp

DODDER———————————-Cascuta americana

ELEPHANT GRASS———————-Pennisetum purpurium

EMILLIA———————————–Emillia sognifochia

you can read my post on bush fallowing here

here is my detailed article on the botanical names of crop

you can read more about weed control methods here

FOXTAIL GRASS————————–Setaria barbata

GOAT WEED———————————–Ageretum conyzoides

GUINEA GRASS—————————-Panacum maximum

GIANT STAR GRASS=============Cynodon plectostachyus

GUATEMALA GRASS————————Tripsaum laxum

GRAGOSTIC GRASS————————Gragrostic aspera

LEMON GRASS—————————Cymbopogon citratus

here is a post on propagation of crops here

here is a post on agricultural practice

MILK WEED——————————–Euophorbia hirta
MISLETOE————————————–LORANTHUS PENTAGONA
MONEY WEED——————————–accanthospernum hispidum
NORTHERN GAMBA GRASS——————-Andropogon gayanus
GLORIOSA PLANT————————-Gloriosa superba
PARA GRASS——————————–Pernicum barbinode
PANGOLA GRASS—————————Digitaria decumbens

PIG WEED———————————–Boerhavia diffusa

SOME OF THESE WEED ARE VERY USEFUL TO MAN. YOU CAN READ MORE HERE

read how weeds can be used as mulching materials

PUERO—————————————-Pueraria phaseoloides

RUBBER WEED—————————–Mimosa pudica

RHODES GRASS—————————–Chloris guyana

SOUTHERN GAMBA GRASS—————Andropogon tectorum

SUNHEMP————————————-Crotelaria juncea

SPEAR GRASS——————————–Imperata cylindrica

STYLO——————————————-Stylosanthes gracilis

SENSITIVE PLANT————————–Mimosa pudica

 

SEDGE PLANT—————————–Cyperus rotundatus

SIAM WEED——————————Chromolina oohum

STUBBORN GRASS———————-Sida acuta

GREEN-TETE-WITH THORNS————————Amaranthus spinosis

ou can read about the use of herbicide and its application here

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