Weed Biology and Ecology: - A Key to Successful Weed Management and Control

Abstract

Weed biology is related to the study of weeds in relation to their geographical distribution, habitat, growth, population dynamics and communities. On the other hand, ecology is the interrelationship between organisms and their environment. Weed ecology is thus concerned with growth characteristics and adaptations that enable weeds to survive changes in the environment. The environment includes climatic, edaphic and biotic factors and it determines the distribution, prevalence, competing ability, behavior and survival of the weeds. Development of an appropriate and effective weed management program is dependent on the sound knowledge of weed biology and ecology i.e. a thorough knowledge regarding propagation, dispersal, behavior, survival and persistence behavior of weeds. Man plays an important role in changing the environment by altering the crop husbandry practices and by managing weed-free mono crop or multi crop cultures. Mono crop culturesu-tilize moisture, nutrients and light available for plant growth in a way different from multi crop cultures and this influences the ecological requirements for weed growth, behavior, competition and survival. The various aspects related to weed biology and ecology are discuss in this paper and the importance of weed biology in weed control have been reviewed in the paper. The discussion on weed biology may sometime overlap weed ecology.