Weeds cause more damage to crop yield than other damaging factors.
Control of weeds is very important to get quality yield and high income.
Weeds can be controlled with and without chemicals but it is important that the number of weeds should not be more in the field so that the economic condition of the produce is not affected.
If weeds in vegetable crops are not controlled at the right time, then they compete with crop plants for water, space, light and nutrients.
Various scientific studies have shown that there is yield losses by weeds is about 66 % in cabbage, 51 % in cauliflower, 70 % in peas, 40 % in okra, 62-82 % in potatoes, 60 % in tomatoes, 42 % in onions and up to 60 % in garlic.
In order to get more production from crops, it is necessary to keep the crops weed free in the initial stage. But keeping the crop weed free from initial stage to harvesting is neither economically beneficial nor it is possible to do so.
Therefore in the critical stage of weed competition it is very important to control weeds. Some of the major weeds found in vegetables are:
Weed prevention method
Weed prevention method means that new weeds could not spread in the crop area. If major weed prevention methods are used, proper management of weeds can be done and more quality production can also be achieved.
- Use weed-free crop seeds
- Use rotten manure. Be careful that it does not contain weed seeds
- Keep irrigation canals weed free
- Do not transfer soil from weed prone area to cropland
Use proper crop rotation
- Grow vegetables after grassland crops.
- Grow summer vegetables after Rabi cereal crops.
- Vegetables of the same family should not be grown continuously.
- Grow crops with high weed competition (maize, potato) after weak weed competition (carrot, onion) crops.
