Integrated weed management in india-revisited*

Integrated weed management (IWM) is a science-based decision-making process that coordinates the use of macro and micro-environment information, weed biology and ecology, and all available technologies to control weeds by the most economical and ecologically viable methods. The concept of IWM is not new and many advances have been made in recent years in India. The IWM research carried out in India during the last 20 years is reviewed in this paper. Limited ecological studies were carried out on certain problematic weeds. Majority of the research in India on IWM was herbicide-based. Economic analysis revealed that herbicides use in combination with hand weeding was most economical. Weeds are dynamic and it is required to redesign the strategies from time to time for the successful management of ever increasing problem of weeds. IWM research in India must broaden beyond herbicide-centred weed management. Future IWM research in India must focus on decision-making processes, weed biology and ecology, environmentally and economically viable components of IWM practices in cropping systems, herbicide resistance, environmental issues related to transgenic plants, and potential benefits of weeds.