Plant Protection

Weed Management

Dr. Ir. R.R. Rukmowati Brotodjojo, M.Agr.

Danar Wicaksono, S.P., M.Sc.
Mechanical control 1. Soil tillage 2. Weeding Mechanical control 1. Crop Rotation 2. Cultivation
3. Slashing System
3. Crop Density
Technical Culture Control 1. Crop Rotation 2. Crop
System Biological control 1. Monophage 2. Polyphages
3. Crop Density
Chemical control Benefits
 Disadvantages 4. Mulching
4. Loosening the soil
5. Mulching
6. Burning

4. Mulching 5. Legume Cover Crops

5. Legume Cover Crops
Integrated control

Classification of
herbicides a. mode of
action
b. killing power
c. how to use
d. application way
e. application time
 Mechanical control
Control is carried out by:
• Destroying weeds mechanically with simple to modern tools •
Breaking the weed life cycle.

1. Soil tillage
2. Weeding
3. Slashing
4. Loosening the soil
5. Mulching
6. Burning

Mechanical control
1. Soil tillage
• Eliminates apical dominance (rhizome)
• Stimulates germination of seeds / shoots rhizomes
• Killing weed sprouts
• Problems: expensive, erosion, compacted soil
2. Weeding
• Target: For young weeds or annuals
• Problem: Spaced closely, chronic weeds don't die, expensive and often late.
3. Slashing
• Performed on the plantation
• 3-4 weeks depending on weeds
• depleting annual weed food reserves
• Problem: high cost and labor.

Mechanical control
4. Loosening the soil
• Loosening the soil with a hoe
 • Problem: Spaced closely, can damage roots, expensive
5. Mulch
• Prevent weed seeds from germinating
6. Burning
• With flames, gasoline, diesel, propane, butane.
• The temperature is 40-45 degrees, the cells die because the protoplasm is coagulating. •
Problem: Rhizomes, tubers in the soil do not die. Weed seeds that are dormant can grow.

Technical Culture Control

Is a way of control using cultivation
practices: 1. Crop Rotation
2. Crop System
3. Crop Density
4. Mulching
5. Legume Cover Crops

Mechanical control
1. Crop Rotation
• Crop rotation aims to utilize optimal soil, water, sunlight and time so that adequate results
are obtained.
• Example: Paddy -> Paddy -> “second plant”: Sorghum, Mung beans, Cowpea, Soya bean,
Cassava, Potato, sweet potato, Carrot, Cucumber, Long beans, Taro, or Corn.

2. Cultivation System
• Cultivation changing from monoculture to polyculture is influential weed species because it
has differences in interactions in competition.
• Example: intercropping, intercropping

Mechanical control
3. Crop Density
• Proper spacing of plants.
• Example: soybean spacing 25 cm x 25 cm, 15 cm x 25 cm can reduce weed growth > 30% and
correlated with increasing yield.

4. Mulching
• Affects light and temperature at soil surface and causes sprouts and some types of mature
weeds to die.
• Maintain soil moisture.

Mechanical control
5. Legume Cover Crops
• Legumes grow fast cover the soil preventing germination and weed growth; can be used as
green manure.
• Types of legumes commonly used:
➢ Calopogonium muconoides (Cm)
➢ C. caerelum (Cc)
 ➢ Centrosoma pubescens (Cp)
➢ Pueraria javanica (Pj)
➢ P. phasioloides (Pp)
• Able to increase Nitrogen content
• Utility at Rubber Plantation -> Cc : Cp : Pp = 3 : 2 : 1
• At Palm Oil: Pj : Pp : Cp = 1 : 8 : 12

Biological control
• Control by using natural for suppresses the growth of weeds. • The main
requirement for creatures to be used as biological/Natural Control: 1. able to kill
weeds/prevent their reproduction
2. have good adaptability
3. high spreading / able to reach other areas
4. Reproductive capacity is sufficient to over the weed population

Biological control
According to its nature there are 2 controlling agents:
1. Monophage (1 host type)/limited
• Example:
a. Opuntia dilennii → Dactylopius opuntia (Insect)
b. P. conexa → Chromolaena odorata
c. Chondrilla jaucea → Puccinia chondrillina (mushrooms)

Biological control
According to its nature there are 2 controlling agents:
2. Polyphages (multiple hosts)
a. Mammals: Grass-eaters for land weeds: deer, antelope, wild buffalo. b.
Fish: To control aquatic weeds (water hyacinth and Salvinia molesta) c.
Mollusca: Small snails eat Mikania sp.
d. Puccinia chondrallina rust fungus → Chondrilla javanica

Chemical control
Control using herbicides. It was called herbicide because at the first-time weeds are
identical herbs.

Herbicide Benefits:
a. control weeds as early as possible
b. have selectivity
c. long control period
d. avoid damage to plant roots
e. kill annual weeds

Chemical control
Control using herbicides. It was called herbicide because at the first-time weeds are
identical herbs.

Herbicide disadvantages:
 a. There are side effects, environmental pollution
b. Resistant weeds often arise
c. Difficult to apply, required trained personnel
d. Incorrect use can be fatal

Chemical control
Classification of herbicides
Based on its mode of action:
1. Contact herbicide
• herbicide that can kill the parts of the plant that are exposed to splashes
• Example: paraquat
• Character:
a. The effect is quickly visible (a few hours later)
b. Does not kill plant parts in the soil
c. Annual weeds are killed, annuals are not killed
 Chemical control
Classification of herbicides
Based on killing power:
1. Selective herbicides
• herbicides that can kill some types of plants, but not some other types of plants.
• Example: Dalapon kills grass weeds, 2,4-D and MCPA kill broadleaf weeds.

2. Non-selective herbicide
• herbicide that can kill all types of plants that are splashed
• Example: Paraquat and Glyphosate

Chemical control
Classification of herbicides
Based on how to use:
1. Through the leaves (foliar application):
• Contact nature: applied before seed formation
• Systemic: applied when vegetative growth is slow (starts to accumulate assimilate) or when the
dose is high it turns into contact (phloem tissue is killed)
• Selective herbicides: if the dose is high it can turn out to be non-selective

Chemical control
Classification of herbicides
Based on how to use:
2. Through the roots / soil (soil treatment):
• Pre-emergent herbicides: non-selective herbicide properties
• use the recommended dose
• kill annual weeds (sprouts from seed)
• does not kill annual weeds (sprouts from organ vegetative) •
Persistence (length of stay) of herbicides in the soil is affected:
1. Decomposition/degradation of microorganisms
 2. soil colloid absorption
3. photodegradation
4. volatility/evaporation
5. washing that is influenced by temperature and moisture

Chemical control
Classification of herbicides
Based on application way:
1. Broad cast treatment: evenly distributed, granular
2. Blanket treatment: sprayed evenly, in liquid form Herbicide properties: selective or non-selective,
plant or not
3. Band treatment: according to the plant line, on rubber the width of the line is 2.5-3 m. Herbicide
properties: non-selective: paraquat, glyphosate in annuals, applied pre-grow
4. Over head treatment: spray on the top of the plant. Herbicide properties: Selective: 2,4-D, MCP A,
Dalapon
5. Directed spraying: directed spraying, according to the target, should not hit the green parts of the
plant. Herbicide properties: non-selective: Paraquat, Glyphosate
6. Tree injection: the herbicide is introduced into the xylem tissue of the tree by means of an injection,
 Example of 2,4,5-T . herbicide

Chemical control
Classification of herbicides
Based on application way:
7. Over head treatment: spray on the top of the plant. Herbicide properties: Selective: 2,4-D, MCP A,
Dalapon
8. Directed spraying: directed spraying, according to the target, should not hit the green parts of the
plant. Herbicide properties: non-selective: Paraquat, Glyphosate
9. Tree injection: the herbicide is introduced into the xylem tissue of the tree by means of an injection,
Example of 2,4,5-T . herbicide

Chemical control
Classification of herbicides
Based on application time:
 1. Pre-planting: applied before planting
• Herbicide properties: non-selective
• Weed state: not yet or has grown

2. Pre-emergence: applied before the plant germinates •

Herbicide properties: non-selective
• Weed state: not yet or has grown

Chemical control
Classification of herbicides
Based on application time:
3. At emergence: applied when the plant germinates •
Herbicide properties: selective
• Weed state: not yet or has grown

4. Post emergence: applied after the plant grows •

 Herbicide properties: selective
• Weed state: not yet or has grown

Integrated control
• Control by using several techniques simultaneously.
• The goal is to get the best possible results. •
Example: Tillage, spacing, weeding

References
Moenandir.1990. Pengantar Ilmu dan Pengendalian Gulma. Rajawali Press. Jakarta. -----.1993.
Ilmu Gulma dan Sistem Pertanian. Raja Grafindo Persada. Jakarta. Natawigena, H. 1994. Dasar-
dasar Perlindungan Tanaman. Trigenda Karya, Bandung. Rukmana dan Saputra. 1999. Gulma
dan Teknik Pengendalian. Kanisius. Yogyakarta. Sukman dan Yakup. 1995. Gulma dan Teknik
Pengendaliannya. Universitas Sriwijaya. Palembang. Tjitrosoedirdjo,S. 1984. Pengelolaan Gulma
di Perkebunan. PT. Gramedia, Jakarta.