Challenge your knowledge of effective weed management strategies in agriculture, covering methods, impacts, and best practices to promote healthy crop growth.
Which of the following best describes a weed in the context of agriculture?
Explanation: A weed is typically defined as a plant that grows in a location where it is not desired, often competing with crops for resources. A crop with high water demand can be a challenge but is not a weed. Beneficial insects help rather than harm crops. A tool used for tilling soil refers to equipment, not a plant.
Which method is considered a cultural practice for controlling weeds in agricultural fields?
Explanation: Crop rotation disrupts weed life cycles by alternating crops, reducing the chances for specific weeds to establish. Herbicide spraying is chemical, manual weeding is mechanical, and burning crop residues is a physical method, not cultural.
Why are weeds considered a major economic threat to agricultural production?
Explanation: Weeds compete with crops for nutrients, water, and light, which often results in lower yields. Increasing soil moisture and attracting pollinators are beneficial effects, while improving soil fertility is not typically associated with most weeds.
In weed management, what is the primary advantage of using selective herbicides?
Explanation: Selective herbicides are formulated to control specific weeds while minimizing damage to the crop. Non-selective herbicides kill all plants, improving crop taste is unrelated, and they do not generally enhance pest resistance.
What is a key principle of Integrated Weed Management (IWM) in agriculture?
Explanation: IWM encourages the use of chemical, cultural, mechanical, and biological methods together for sustainable weed control. Sole reliance on manual removal, over-application of herbicides, or only targeting visible weeds can reduce effectiveness and sustainability.