Weed science is the scientific
discipline that deals with the study of weeds or plants that interfere with
human activities.
But first of all we must try to
establish what is a weed because weed is defined in a variety of ways depending
upon the situation. But the most common definition is that;
A weed is a plant growing where
it is not desired or a plant out of proper place.
Weeds are included into the pests
of plants, crops, water courses and gardens. Hence, they require proper
management and control options. The chemicals used to control pests are called
pesticides, whereas the chemicals used to control weeds specifically are called
herbicides. While a herbicide targeting a particular weed or a group is called weedicide.
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| A piece of land infest with Convolvulus arvensis |
Weed control is an offshoot of
weed science which is most significant, well learnt and practiced. The
application depends upon available information, resources, environmental
conditions and economic status of the concerned farm. Technological
improvements have helped over the time to increase the crop production.
History
The history of weed control goes
back to the time when man started to cultivate plants in field. In ancient
times man used to pull out weeds by hand. Around 10,000 BC the farmers used
sticks or other sharp tools to hoe the fields instead of hand pulling.
Approximately, 1000 BC the farmers started to use animal dragged crude hoes for
this purpose as seen in many records as carvings on the rocks and historical
places.
In 1700s, the term “weed” was first time used in its present meaning.
In those days horse-hoeing was done in row planted crops for weed management.
In 1900s, tractors started replacing the animal drawn hoeing tools. And by the
end of 20th century, man has learnt to manage the problem of weed
infestation more effectively using selective herbicide, better cultural
practices, pure crop seed free of weed seed and biological and biotechnological
based solutions for the weed management.
Future
The future of weed science and
particularly weed control lies with improved technologies, cultural practices,
better competing crops, allelopathy, genetic engineering, predictive modeling
of weed-crop interaction and better biological controls using insects and plant
disease organisms.
Better management options will be available if more focus is
given to the understanding of weed biology, ecology and life cycle, its
parasites and disease causing agents. These things are easy to say but nothing
is impossible, hence weed science is a field of intensive study and research so
that we may be able to develop environment friendly weed management practices
which will further boost our agriculture, livestock and fisheries industries.
