CROP PROTECTION 1100 SECOND TERM

TRANSCRIBE BY: RICIO, ASHLEY NICOLLE L.

MODULE 1: WEEDS
Anthropocentric ‒ Weed have positive and negative values
‒ Weeds are plants that are more damaging than
‒ man’s centered useful
‒ A plant growing out of place
(Water hyacinth, cogon grass, barnyard grass)
‒ A plant growing where it is not wanted
‒ Weeds are undesirable
‒ Weeds are useless plant

Example:

(Spiny amaranth in an onion field; makahiya in golf

course) (kulitis)

Characteristics of a weed
Competitive
‒ A weed is any plant, that interferes with crop
production ‒ Is the type of ecological relationship existing
‒ Weed is an aggressive competitor of crops between crops and weeds
‒ This character, is what makes weed the worst
Example:
pest of the crop
(Kangkong in an irrigated rice-field; crop and weed ‒ Weeds competes with crop for light, nutrients,
are both plants) water, and space.
‒ Influenced by
 Barryard grass/ Bayakibok
 Crop and weed stage
 Crop and weed morphology – both
have similar characteristics
 Allelopathic substances – secondary
plant metabolizes
o Chemical inhabitation of one species by
another
‒ Weed is a product of disturbed natural
vegetation Reproductive

 Weed seed bank (soil) ‒ a pre-requisite to weed persistence

‒ more seed
(Cultivated land is weedy than zero tillage area) ‒ weeds are known to produce high number of
seed (sexually)
‒ Weed is the most important component of the
‒ new weed
total pest
Banyard grass – 42,388 seeds/plant
 Weeds, insect pest, pathogens, rodents, birds,
mollusks, mites’ nematodes, and others Rice panicles – 70-100 grains

Jungle Rice – 42,758

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Itch grass – 5,048 seeds/plant - Ornamentals

- Toxin absorber (heavy metal like lead)
Corns – a rounded thick modified underground
stem base bearing membranous or scaly leaves and Negative
buds and acting as a vegetative reproductive
- Weeds reduce the product quality
structure

‒ stem
Detrimental effects
‒ tubers – swollen portions of underground stem
(mutha) 1. Aggressive competitor
‒ bulbs – underground storage organs o Competes for light, water, space, and
composed of swollen leaf bases or scales (like nutrients
onion)
‒ rhizomes – horizontal subterranean stems 2. Weed reduced crop yield. Yield reduction
that give rise to aerial shoots. (kogon grass) in some crops
‒ stolon – horizontally growing stems that root  Tomato 39-86%
at stolon nodes (krus krusan)  String beans 42-60%
 Onion 67-88%
 Rice
Persistent

‒ It is the continuing quality (in the unfavorable Transplanted – 48% 21 days

sense) of the weed after control measures are (competitive)
applied. Direct seeded – 96%
‒ Influenced greatly by dormancy of weed
seeds, number of seeds produced by each 3. Increase cost of form inputs
species, survival tactics by each species, ways
of means of dispersal, and seed viability 4. Increase cost of lawn maintenance and
beautification
Pernicious o Purchase of Herbicide, framing tools, or
equipment used in removing weeds, hiring of
‒ The character of weed that means
laborer
exceedingly harmful, working in a hidden and
usually injurious manner
5. Reduce animal yield
‒ Could be direct or indirect damage
o Poisonous or toxic plants like Lantana
‒ destructive
camara and Chromolaena adorate slows
(Presence in a large scale/ quantity – Water animal growth cause of death
hyacinth in river, barnyard grass in a rice field) o Some effects of L. Camara (kantutay)
 Liver dysfunction
60-80% yield loss
 Accumulation of bile
Impacts of Weeds  Enlargement of the gall bladder
 Loss of appetite
 Weed is “Double-CARA”  Dehydration
Positive
- could be a source of income raw materials 6. Lessen land efficiency
for composing and livelihood products like o Reduce land value
basket, slippers, placemat, fencing o Non cropland maintenance
materials, roofing, materials, flower bouquet
o Limit the crops that can be grown
etc.
o Increased cost of production and harvesting
- Medical plants
- Botanical pesticides

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7. Alternate host of disease-causing

microorganisms and insect pests
8. Clogs irrigation, canals, and water ways
9. Imposed health hazards

Usefulness MODULE 2: GROSS MORPHOLOGY

‒ Prevent soil erosion 1. Grasses
‒ Forage 2. Sedges
‒ Source of food 3. Broadleaves
‒ Host of beneficial insects (ecological
GRASSES
engineering)
‒ Belongs to family Poaceae
‒ Long, narrow leaves with parallel venation a
‒ Leaves arise alternately in two rows
‒ With ligules
‒ Stem is called culms with well-defined nodes
and internodes
‒ Most grasses have fibrous root system
‒ Barnyard grass, Paragrass, Cogon, Talahib

Example:

a. Echinochloa crus-galli/ Banyard Grass/

Bayakibok

b. Cenchrus echinatus/ Spiny sandbur/

Kawit-kawitan

c. Brachiaria mutic/ Buffalo grass/ Para

grass

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b. Frimbristylis miliacea/ grasslike fimbry/

gumi

d. Eluisine indica/ Goose grass/ Paragis

c. Cyperus compactus

e. Rottboellia cochinchinensis/ R. exaltata/

Itch grass/ Aguingay

d. Cyperus kyllingia

SEDGES

‒ Belongs to family Cyperaceae

‒ Stems are usually solid and triangular. Have a e. Cyperus brevifolius
three-ranked leaf arrangement. Each leaf
arises one-third of the way around the stem
from the one below. The basal portion of each
leaf is fused to form a tube around the stem
and there are no distinct sheath-blade
divisions.

Example:

a. Cyperus rotundus/ purple nutsedge/

mutha, barsanga Broadleaves

‒ This group can be distinguished from grasses

and sedges by the presence of expanded leaf

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blades. Venation of the leaves may be parallel

as in monocots or netted as in dicots.

Example:

a. Chromolaena odorata/ siam weed/ gonoy

f. Eichhornia crassipes

b. Mimosa Pudica

g. Sphenochlea zeylanica

c. Mimosa Invisa
Weed Classification (Growth Habit)

• Shrubs
• Ascending
• Vines
• Prostrate
• Erect
• Repent
• Cespitose
d. Amaranthus viridis
Shrubs

o A woody plant that is smaller than a tree and

has several main stems arising at or near the
ground.
o Chromolaena odorata or gonoy

e. Amaranthus spinosus Repent

‒ Creeping and rooting at nodes.

‒ Ipomoea aquatica or kangkong

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Cespitose
c. Salvinia molesta or water fern
‒ forming dense tuffs, normally applied to small
plants typically growing into mats tufts or
clumps
‒ Cyperus rotundus
‒ fimbrystylis miliaceae

d. Chromolaena odorata

Characteristics of the special weed a.k.a.

NOXIOUS WEED

‒ Rapid vegetative growth

‒ Efficient and early reproduction
‒ Ability to survive and adapt to adverse e. Cyperus rotundus
condition
‒ Ability to become dormant under unfavorable
conditions
‒ Ability to cause significant damage even at low
densities.

Example:
f. Imperata cylindrica
a. Eicchornia crassipes or water hyacinth

b. Pistia stratiotes or water lettuce

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‒ The seeds in the soil could be dormant or

non-dormant, some seeds germinate and
die while others germinate and live and later
produces seeds that are deposited in the
soil. Other seeds in the soil could be eaten by
birds and mice while some could be attacked
by fungi and bacteria that lead to rotting and
decomposition.

Seed longevity (kakayahan tumubo)

‒ Weed seeds tend to be viable even after long

dry storage. Seeds of Nelumbo nucifera,
commonly known as lotus were found in the
dried Manchurian Lake and are still viable after
1,040 years. In addition, the seeds of
MODULE 3: WEED BIOECOLOGY AND Eichhornia crassipes were also discovered to
SURVIVAL be viable after 15 years of dry storage.
‒ In the Philippines, a burial treatment was made
Survival Strategies of Weeds
by Juliano in which he stores the seeds of the
How do we survive
following weeds: Amaranthus spinosus,
1. Purple mudges Mimosa pudica, Dactyloctenium aegyptium,
2. Cyperus rotundus and Portulaca oleracea in the vials for 19
3. Pappus years. Juliano stated that a reduction in
germination was observed yet still germinated
Factors affecting weed survival and produces normal seedlings after 19 years
of storage.
Establishment

‒ the beginning of weed establishment or ecesis

is when they start to germinate and produce
true leaves.

Weed Seed Bank

‒ Soil served as the weed seed bank. It is a

portion of the soil that contains different kinds
of weed seeds including vegetative propagules
which are dispersed by different agents like Seed Dormancy (kakayahan na hindi mag permit)
wind, water, animals, man, and machinery.

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‒ Inability of the seed to germinate or any o Chromolaena odorata seeds undergo

vegetative organ or tissue under favorable dormancy at shaded areas.
conditions.
‒ Seed dormancy is a characteristic of the
seed and not the environment.

Types of Dormancy

 Innate
 Induced
 Enforced

Innate Dormancy

o It is a primary dormancy wherein the How to Break Dormancy?

dormancy is acquired or parental. It can be
physiological like the presence of a chemical
inhibitor that prevents the seed from
germinating. It could also be structural like
the presence of a hard and thick seed
coat. In addition, innate dormancy can be
removed also by the process of “after-
ripening” wherein the immature seeds should
reach their maturity before they will
germinate.
Induced Dormancy
o It is a secondary dormancy that happens
because of environmental factors that do
not favor seed germination.
o Temporary dormancy occurs when a non-
dormant seed becomes dormant after
exposure to some environmental factors like
exposure to hot or cold temperatures or other
environmental conditions.
 Microbial action
 Abrasive treatments
(stratification/scarification)
 Passage through the alimentary canal of
animals (partial digestion
 Dehulling
 Subjecting to alternate wet and dry conditions
(cause seed coat rupture)
 Physiologically-controlled dormancy can
break or be lost in nature through a period
called “AFTER-RIPENING” (time required to
overcome the physiological barrier for
germination)
 Treatment with germination promoters like
GA, auxin
 Light exposure (Chromolaena odorata)
Seed soaking

Enforced Dormancy

o It is caused by unfavorable environmental

conditions such as temperature, moisture,
Scarification
oxygen, and the presence of inhibitors; when
these environmental limitations are removed,
the seeds will germinate freely.
o Is an inability to germinate due to an
environmental restraint: a shortage of water,
low temperature, poor aeration, etc.

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Hot water treatment
Germination
‒ resumption of growth of the embryo in the
seed, young plantlet in a tuber, bulb or
rhizome.
5 Steps in Seed Germination
• Imbibition/absorption of water
• Period of rapid metabolic activity (cell division
and elongation)
• Root or root-like elongation
• The emergence of shoot (first sign of weed
growth)
• Period of independent growth – the plant
manufactures its own food (way to ecesis or
establishment)
Methods of Reproduction
The process of Seed Germination
CENTRAL LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY BSA 1-7
Factors Affecting Seed Germination
1. Water
‒ excessive water creates oxygen tension
inhibiting germination (flooding as weed control
due to: reduce oxygen conc.; accumulation of
CO2 and other gaseous products of anaerobic
respiration which kill the embryo.
2. Cultivation
‒ it brings the seeds to the soil surface or buried
the seeds deeper. It also aerates the soil
providing oxygen to buried seeds. Cultivation
causes the severing of dormant seeds and
propagules from the mother plant. It enhances
the germination of Fimbristylis, Cyperus and
Echinochloa.
3. Light
‒ can inactivate the chemical inhibitor in the
seeds of Rottboellia cochinchinensis. Also, it
can reduce the moisture content of the seeds
or tubers to a required level of germination
4. Seedling Growth and Development
‒ it is the most important stage in weed
establishment. It is the most competitive stage
of the weed; however, it is also the most
sensitive or vulnerable stage because it
contains less amount of wax or cutin and with
tender tissues, Therefore, this stage is the best
for the application of chemical control.
Reproductive
 Most weeds produce a huge number of seeds
while others have rapid vegetative
reproduction. It determines the abundance of a
weed species. Weeds can reproduce either
sexually or asexually. Also, the reproductive
potential of weeds is a prerequisite to its
persistence because it is believed that “the
more seeds produce, the higher the chance of
survival”
Sexual Reproduction – annual weeds
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‒ Flowering as early as 4-5 weeks after planting,  3 to 7 million tubers/ha/season

seeds produced in 3-4 weeks after flowering.  One tuber produced 549 tubers in 126 days
‒ Reproductive period is long and flowers are  First 100 days: 1 tuber/day; after 112 days: 4
produced successively, resulting in large tubers/day
volume of seeds.
‒ Number of seeds depends on plant size,
growing conditions, and on successful
pollination followed by fertilization during the
flowering period.

WEED SEED PRODUCTION

Weed Species Number of seeds/Plants
Amaranthus spinosus 235,000
Digitaria sanguinalis 150,000
Bidens pilosa 3,000-6,000
Cyperus difformis 30,000
Dispersal
Rottboellia cochinchinensis 5,000-15,000
Eleusine indica 40,000-50,000  Weeds possess special structures for
Monochoria vaginalis 45,000-62,000 dissemination. The structure of the seed,
Echinochloa crusgalli 43,000 habitat of weeds, and the activities of
Echinochloa colona 43,000 man are key factors for efficient
Portulaca oleracea 10,000 dispersal.
Ageratum conyzoides 40,000

AGENTS of DISPERSAL
Asexual Reproduction – Perennial weeds
‒ If a weed has an efficient means of vegetative
reproduction, sexual reproduction is of
secondary importance
‒ Some weeds have more than one type of
vegetative propagule (Cyperus rotundus has
tubers and bulbs, Paspalum distichum has
stolons and rhizomes).
‒ Once initiated, vegetative reproduction can
proceed rapidly.
Examples of Vegetative Reproduction of WEEDS
Wind
o for seeds that are light and small, have
flattened structures, with wing-like outgrowth
or feathery appendages (pappus).
Water
o common among aquatic weeds whose seeds
possess oily film, light pericarp, or inflated
structure which can float easily in water.

Animals and Man

• Tubers were produced 3 weeks after shoot
emergence for Cyperus rotundus and o seeds with spines, hooks or sticky substance
Scirpus maritimus. such as:
• 45 tubers in one week after the first tuber is - Cenchrus echinatus
formed in Scirpus maritimus. - Triumfetta bartramia
• Off-shoots of Pistia stratiotes produced in 18 - Chrysopogon aciculatus
days - Urena lobata
- Bidens pilosa
Estimated tuber production of Cyperus rotundus

 1500 tubers/m2 or

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o Seeds with hard seed coats pass through the
digestive system (birds and cattle) are still
viable and can germinate once in the soil.
- Cassia tora, Cassia occidentalis
- Phaseolus lathyroides
Components of Competition
- Other legumes
o Rats and Ants carry seeds
o Man – shipment of seeds, feedstuff, farm
equipment; some introduced as ornamentals,
through compost or as mistaken identity.
 Limnocharis flava – as an ornamental
 Salvinia molesta – mistakenly collected as
giant azolla
Resources competed for:
MODULE 4: CROP WEED COMPETITION
Competition
‒ Competition is the struggle between two or
more individuals of the same or of different
species for a particular resource that is limited.
Weed and crops usually compete for water,
space, light, and nutrients which are all vital to
their growth and development.
CENTRAL LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY BSA 1-7
‒ The overall effect of the competition is a
reduction of the reproductive potential of
BOTH competitors.
‒ Weeds influence crop growth, resulting in
decreased yield (especially if the weed is very
competitive). Crops also exert partial
competition against the weeds, for example,
competitive cultivars.
Types of Competition
Interspecific competition
‒ competition between plants of different
species.
‒ weeds vs crops, weed species 1 vs weed
species 2
Intraspecific competition
‒ competition between plants of the same
species.
‒ individual plants of weed species 1 or
individual plants of crop 1.
a. Water
- Competition becomes critical with
increasing soil moisture stress. For an
equal amount of dry matter, weeds
transpire more water than crops.
b. Nutrients
- Weeds usually absorb mineral nutrients
faster and in larger amounts than crop
plants
c. Space/CO2
- A more efficient utilization of CO2 by C4
type weeds may contribute to their rapid
growth over C3 type of crop
d. Light
- Dense weed growth smothers the crop
seedlings. Crop plants suffer badly due
to shading effect of weeds. Shading
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limits the amount of light available to b. Density

crops. The shading ability is expressed
on terms of light transmission ratio (LTR)
and leaf area index (LAI)..
1. LTR – Ratio of light intensity at ground level
to the light intensity above the canopy level
which is expressed in percentage (%).
2. LAI – leaf area of the plant per unit ground
area.
3. LTR is affected by LAI: more leaves, higher
LAI, lower LTR, more competitive species
(less light going through canopy, thus more
shading of other plants).
‒ competition increases with the number and
size of weeds per unit area.
c. Crop variety
‒ some varieties (some local varieties) are
better competitors than others.
d. Seeding methods
‒ crops given a headstart compete better
( transplanted rice vs direct seeded rice,
closer vs wider spacing).
e. Time of weed competition
f. Time of crop and weed emergence
(Transplanting vs. direct-seeding)

What makes weeds more competitive o The critical period of competition is that time
1. Higher water use efficiency (WUE) in which the crop is very sensitive to weed
WUE = grams of water used per grams of competition. First 25-33% of the crop growth.
dry matter produced. Weeds should be removed before or during
2. Efficient fertilizers absorbers. Weeds absorb the critical period of competition.
more nutrients and thus, use fertilizer more
Critical eriod for Weed Control in Different Crops
efficiently than crops.
3. Physiological basis: C4 vs C3 plants. C4 plants CROP DEVELOPMENT
are more competitive and higher yielding than STAGE/CPC
C3 plants. Garlic Bulb initiation
4. Rapid root growth and development Okra 10-15 cm height
5. Rapid leaf production Carrot 7-10 cm height
6. Multiple shoot development Bean Canopy formation
7. Extensive root system Cucumber Runner initiation
8. Rapid reproduction
Cabbage Head initiation
9. Dormancy of seeds and propagules
Tomato 20-20 cm height
10. Higher water use efficiency and nutrient
Corn 49 days (120)
absorption
Lowland transplanted 30-40 days (120)
Water use efficiency of C4 vs C3 plants rice
Species G dm/100g absorbed water Onion (red creole, 56 days/8 weeks (95)
Portulaca 3.94 transplanted)
oleracea Mungbean 21-35 days (60-65)
Sorghum bicolor 3.73
Zea mays 2.77
Glycine max 1.55
Factors Affecting the Degree of Competition
 How to reduce competition?
Effect of weed density on crop yield: • Provide enough of the resources being
“Yield reduction increases with increase in weed competed for
density” • Remove one of the competing
individuals, in this case, weeds (direct
a. Weed species and indirect methods)
‒ similar morphology (rice vs grass weeds;
vegetables vs broadleaves)

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• Apply strategies that will weaken weeds • has a harmful effect through the
or make weeds grow lower, but make production of toxins or inhibitors that
crops grow faster. escape into the environment.

‒ In weed control, the ultimate goal is to shift

‒ Is a biochemical interaction among plants
competition in favor of the crop to make it more
resulting in a direct or indirect effect of one
competitive than the weeds.
plant on another thru excretion of substances
CPC or Critical period of competition (allelochemicals)

‒ duration wherein the crop is very sensitive to EFFECT: inhibition of germination and growth,
weed competition (period obtained the destroy root cells leading to less competitive plant.
optimum yield); usually 1/3 to 1⁄2 of the life Allelophatic Plants
cycle; formation of crop canopy.
Allelopathic plants Affected plants
CTL or Critical threshold level Imperata cylindrica Corn
‒ presence of weeds above a certain density Cyperus rotundus Cucumber
which causes a significant reduction in yield Salvia leucophylla Cabbage
(density at which optimum yield is obtained). Rottboellia Cucumber, Ipomea
cochinchinensis Triloba
The economic threshold is of practical Barley Stellaria media
consideration Cucumber (certain lines) Panicum miliaceum
• Knowledge of critical threshold or ordinary level
of weed density that will not cause a significant Shifts in Weed Population
reduction in yield is fundamental for the
formulation of proper weed control measures. ‒ All vegetation is in continuous state of change
• Economic threshold or critical density is used to ‒ Change is influenced by environment and the
determine circumstances in which profit from activities of man.
controlling weeds exceeds the cost of doing so ‒ Weed species in cultivated (cropped) areas
• A wide-scale acceptance of any weed control keep changing or shifting from less dominant
practice depends to a large extent on the to more dominant species.
economic relationship between treatment cost
and increased crop yields.
• Or the critical weed-free period concept, (a.k.a. Factors Affecting Shits in Weed Population
CPWC or the critical period for weed control) is Methods of weed management
the minimum length of time during which the
crop should be practically weed-free to avoid a a. man’s intervention applied continuously
yield or quality reduction over extended periods of time is the
• At some point, crop seedlings and weeds are single most important factor affecting
large enough to compete for light, water, and shifts in weed populations.
nutrients. Weeds usually win this competition, b. Herbicides – shifts from annual to
marking the beginning of the critical weed-free perennial.
period. Economic losses will occur if weeds are Example: shift to perennials Scirpus
not controlled. maritimus and Paspalum distichum in
rice fields applied with herbicides to
Allelopathy control annual weeds like E. crusgalli
‒ is the production of secondary plant and M. vaginalis.
metabolites that affect the growth of another
plant;

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1. Herbicides – continuous use of 2,4-D
resulted in shift of dominant weeds from
broadleaves to grasses.
2. Direct-seeding and use of high yielding
(HYV) but short rice varieties: resulted in
shift of dominant weeds from broadleaves to
grasses.
 WEEDS are dynamic and weed populations
change with changing situations; being able to
predict these changes will enable adequate
management of important weed species and
prevent the build up of populations of noxious
weeds.
MODULE 5: WEED MANAGEMENT
CENTRAL LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY BSA 1-7
 It is the integration of methods to prevent,
decrease or maintain weed population
densities below critical threshold levels.
 goal in weed science is to reduce the density
of weeds that will not cause economic
damage.
 it is better to remove weeds at a certain level
and time so as not to affect the yield and
quality of the products.
 Preventive methods apply to this where the
weed populations should be kept only at a very
low density. Because we all know that weeds
are really difficult to eradicate especially for the
established weeds such as Cyperus rotundus
and other dominant weed species.
Eradiction
‒ is the total removal of the weed at a particular
time and place.
‒ this method is very hard to attain because
weeds have different survival tactics. Weeds
undergo seed dormancy when they were
subjected to an unfavorable environment
aside from having a natural or innate
dormancy.
‒ They also produce numerous amounts of
seeds as well as rapid vegetative propagules
which are efficiently dispersed in the
environment and these are all determinants
of their persistence.
‒ weeds have the ability to adapt to changing
environmental conditions, and even if you cut
or slash them, applied herbicides, subject to
flooded conditions and other ways of
removing them in nature, still they able to
survive.
Some consideration for Weed Management
• Identity of weed species
• The fields cropping history
• Grower’s objectives
• Available technology
• Financial resources
Methods of Weed Management
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• Preventive
• Mechanical and Physical
• Cultural or Agroecological
• Chemical
• Biological
• Biotechnological
• Integrated Weed Management (IWM)
Preventive
‒ When a weed problem is anticipated and action
is taken to prevent it from occurring.
The following are some ways how to prevent weed
occurrence:
• Secure and plant “clean seeds”
• Prevent seed production by weeds (this is
done to prevent weeds from dominating
the area because the more seed production,
the higher the chance of survival)
• Prevent the vegetative spread of perennials
(Remember, perennials not only reproduce by
seeds but also proliferate through their rapid
vegetative propagules)
• Be aware of the infestation’s potential of
imported seeds or plants (e.g. ornamentals) “
One year’s seeding = to 7 year’s weeding”
• Maintain clean weed-free fields and
surroundings (dikes and levees)
• Regulatory actions – to prevent the
introduction of non-native weeds or the entry of
dispersal of noxious or invasive weeds.
- Quarantine laws by the Department of
Agriculture
- Use of certified or foundation seeds
(many farmers used seeds from previous
harvests which are usually contaminated
with weed seeds).
- Rouging out off-types during mid-season
to prevent cross-pollination or
multiplication (e.g. weedy rice)
Mechanical Methods
• Handweeding – the most common method of
weed control
• Hoeing
• Cultivation – weed seeds and propagules can
be buried deeply or can be moved to the soil
surface.
• Mowing
CENTRAL LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY BSA 1-7
• Flooding, Dredging, Draining – water
creates oxygen tension where it can reduce
the amount of oxygen but cause accumulation
of CO2 which causes the killing of the weed
seed embryo.
• Tillage – bury weed seeds, stimulate
germination of dormant seeds and propagules,
desiccate shoots, and exhaust carbohydrates
reserves of perennial weeds.
- Through land preparation: 1-2 plowings
followed by 2-3 harrowings will reduce
weed growth and reduce the number of
handweedings after planting.
- Interrow cultivation: rotary weeder (rice)
off-barring, hilling -up (corn, vegetables)
- Stale-seedbed techniques (SST)
reduces tuber populations in the soil.
Physical Method
‒ Control of weeds by utilization of the physical
components of the environment, such as
temperature, humidity, or light, to kill weeds.
 HEAT
- Flaming (burning of rice hull) -
covering the soil area with rice hull and
burning them may kill weeds due to heat.
- Solarization – exposure or sun drying of
weeds such as tubers of Cyperus
rotundus may cause desiccation through
removal or reduction of seed moisture
content (MC) which may reduce
germination or eventually kill weeds.
 MULCHING
- prevents light penetration and prevents
weed growth, increases soil
temperature.
- Materials as mulch: rice straw, hay,
paper, plastic
- It is used in high value crops (onion,
pepper, other vegetables and fruits)
CROP PROTECTION 1100 SECOND TERM
TRANSCRIBE BY: RICIO, ASHLEY NICOLLE L.
Cultural or Agroecological Methods (Indirect
Weed Control)
‒ Environmental modifications or crop production
practices that enhance crop growth ( to make
crops more competitive) and reduce weed
growth (to make weed less competitive).
 Crop Competition
Healthy crop - make crop more competitive
than weeds (planting methods,
spacing)
- Transplanted rice: has a 20-day head
start over weeds (crop is more
competitive than weeds)
- Direct-seeded rice and weeds germinate
and grow at same time (greater
competition)
 Cultural Methods
a. Water Management
- Flooded rice versus upland rice
- Flooded or irrigated rice is more
competitive than rainfed or upland rice.
- Flooding suppresses weed growth and
transplanting makes rice more
- competitive.
b. Crop Rotation
- Rotate crops with different habitats or
crop requirements to break the life cycle
of the weeds associated with them.
- Crop rotation disrupts life cycle of
weeds growing with the crop.
 Onion = dryland weeds (Cyperus rotundus,
Amaranthus spinosus)
 Rice = wetland weeds ( Echinochloa crusgalli,
Cyperus difformis)
 During dryland crop, wetland weeds are
inhibited
 During wetland crops, dryland weeds are
inhibited.
 However, if the rotation pattern is done
repeatedly over extended periods, over the
years, the weeds can adapt to the new
environment (plasticity). For example, in rice-
onion rotations, a lowland purple nutsedge (C.
rotundus) that can sprout and grow in flooded
soil has developed and is now becoming a
dominant weed in lowland rice.
CENTRAL LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY BSA 1-7
Chemical Method
‒ The use of herbicides to control weeds is the
most convenient and practical way
of weed control especially when there is an
urgent need of weed control.
‒ Herbicides are chemicals that are used to
modify growth, injure or kill weeds through its
effect on the weeds’ physiology and
biochemistry.
‒ It is important to understand the nature and
properties of herbicides and use them properly.
Advantage of using Herbicides
• Reduce or eliminate excessive human labor
• Reduce or eliminate mechanical tillage
requirements
• It can be used in places where other
methods will not work
• Application of early season weed control
(pre-emergence or pre-plant herbicides)
prevent weeds or reduce competition.
Disadvantage of Herbicides
• Expensive
• Exacting
• Encourage monoculture, not diversity
• Residue problems
• Can be toxic to non-target organisms
• Create herbicide resistance
‒ The number of herbicides has continued to
increase; however, 2,4-D is still the most popular
herbicide used in the Philippines. It is a systemic
herbicide that kills most broadleaf weeds by
causing uncontrolled growth in them but most
grasses such as cereals, lawn turf, and
grassland are relatively unaffected.
Biological Methods
‒ The use of biotic or living agents or organisms
such as natural enemies (insects, pathogens) to
control weeds. However, this method is also the
one that is difficult to attain because it requires a
high degree of precision, and requires several
tests before its utilization in the field.
CROP PROTECTION 1100 SECOND TERM
TRANSCRIBE BY: RICIO, ASHLEY NICOLLE L.

Characteristics of a good BCA (Huffaker, 1970) Economics of Weed Control

• Ability to kill the plant or prevent its Weeds control inputs consist of about 20% of the
reproduction in some direct or indirect manner. total production cost
• High ability to disperse successfully and locate
Need to develop weed management strategies that
its host plant
reduce input costs without reducing weed control
• Good adaptation to the weed host and the
efficacy.
environmental conditions over a maximum part
of the area infested by weeds, and Examples:
• Sufficient reproductive capacity to overtake the
increase of its host plant when unfavorable a. 2 harrowing instead of weekly hand weeding
weather occurs. b. Thorough land preparation
c. Stale-seedbed technique
Methods of Application of Biological Control d. Use of mulch, rice hull burning
Agents (BCA) e. 1 herbicide + 1 harrowing instead of 2
herbicides = 2 harrowing
1. Classical
 The weeds have a native habitat
 It has an effective natural enemy or
Biocon agent which can be reared
(insects)
 BCA should be host-specific (will not
damage crops or other non-target
organisms.
2. Augmentative
 The use of plant pathogens to control
weeds BCA is native to the habitat of
weeds.
 Microbial herbicides, mycoherbicides
 Example: Colletotrichum gleosporioides
f. sp. aeschynomene (mycoherbicide,
 Collego) Phytophthora palmivora
(Devine)
 These bioherbicides control broadleaf
weeds infesting rice.

Integrated Weed Management

‒ It is a combination of two or more weed control

tactics or strategies to get the most efficient
season-long control.
• Selection of “best-mix” combination
• Must be practical, economical, and cost-
effective
• Must be suitable to existing farming
conditions
• Usually, herbicide followed by a
mechanical or cultural method (direct +
indirect method)

CENTRAL LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY BSA 1-7