Integrated Weed Management A Tool Box for Different Weed Control

This book contains an overview of the Integrated Weed Management System. Integrated weed management (IWM) means integrating multiple methods to manage weeds, using the combination of practices that are most effective for solving the specific weed issue at hand. These weed management techniques form a “toolbox” in which each “tool” can be integrated into a weed management plan catered to the particular farm and problem. The toolbox includes chemical (herbicide), mechanical, cultural, biological practices, and prevention of weed introduction and spread. By using several techniques to control weeds you reduce the chance that weed species will adapt to the control techniques, which is likely if only one technique is used. For example, if a herbicide is used over a long period of time, a weed species can build up a resistance to the chemical. A long-term integrated weed management plan, that considers all available management control techniques or tools to control weeds, can be developed for a particular area. Any integrated weed management plan or strategy should focus on the most economical and effective control of the weeds and include ecological considerations.