Weed Management Systems

This course addresses aspects of weed biology and ecology and their relevance in designing appropriate weed management systems. It also discusses the interaction between weeds and climate, soils and crop plants including competition and allelopathy. The roles of preventive or suppressive methods, and cropping systems such as intercropping, rotation systems and trap cropping are also discussed. There is a detailed discussion of the herbicide mode of action and herbicides selectivity and herbicide effects on the environment. Also herbicide resistance and its management is discussed. During this course the students will write a concept paper on the broad concept of integrated weed management after reading several assigned journal papers.