Integrated Weed Management in Modern Agriculture: A Review of Innovative Approaches and Their Efficiency

Abstract

One of the greatest biotic constraints to agricultural production systems across the world is weeds, which result in a loss of yield by up to 30-40 percent in the leading crops. Integrated Weed Management (IWM) has become a holistic approach that incorporates several control measures to control weed populations in the most effective way with the least environmental impacts and financial expenditure. The review looks at the new methods in the contemporary management of weeds, such as precision agriculture methods, biocontrols, cover cropping, allelopathic interactions, and new methods of herbicides application. The effectiveness of the different IWM strategies is considered in terms of economic feasibility, environmental sustainability and practical feasibility within the Indian agricultural settings. Recent reports have seen sensor-based detecting weed, robotic weeding systems and bio-herbicides promising outcomes in terms of lessening chemical dependency and keeping crop productivity. Combining the traditional knowledge and the modern technologies can provide sustainable solutions to the smallholder farmers in the developing countries. The paper highlights the necessity of region-specific IWM that takes into account the local cropping, the diversity of weed flora, the socio-economic status, and the climate parameters. IWM practices may help to cut down the development of herbicide resistance, improve soil health, boost biodiversity, and achieve long-term sustainability of agriculture to a large extent. The only way to do it successfully is to provide farmers with education, support the policy, and do further research of new technologies of the weed control adjusted to various agro-ecological regions.