Agr 151

Methods of weed control
...continues
Dr. Shyamashree Roy
Assistant Professor (Agronomy)
RRS (OAZ), UBKV, Majhian
Biological control
• Use of living
organism’s viz.,
insects, disease
organisms,
herbivorous fish,
snails or even
competitive plants
for the control of
weeds is called
biological control.
Dr. Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor
(Agronomy), RRS (OAZ), UBKV, Majhian
Biological control...
• Can’t eradicate weeds but weed population can
be reduced
• Not useful to control all types of weeds
• Introduced weeds are best targets for biological
control
Mode of action
a. Differential growth habits, competitive ability of crops
and varieties prevent weed establishment Eg. Groundnut,
cowpea fast growing and so good weed suppresser.
b. Insects kill the plants by exhausting plant food reserves,
defoliation, boring and weakening structure of the plant.
c. Pathogenic organisms damage the host plants through
enzymatic degradation of cell constituents, production of
toxins, disturbance of hormone systems, obstruction in
the translocation of food materials and minerals and
malfunctioning of physiological processes.
• Bio control started in the year 1900
2 approaches in biological control:

1. Classical biological control approach
2. Bio-herbicide philosophy approach
Classical biological control
• Restoring balance between target alien weed and its natural
enemies in the ecosystem by introduction of suitable, exotic
bio-agent.
Successful bio-agent Bio-agent

reduce the weed population due to
population starvation of food
This process continues in cyclic fashion till After some time the
the bio-agent and weed population gets bio-agent population
established at a low level may recover
• Slow operating
• Used in non cropped areas.
• In crop fields, the bio-agent will not get
opportunity to work on host weed due to
frequent use of insecticides and fungicides in
modern agriculture.
• Other wise Cyperus rotundus can be controlled
in crop fields with moth “Bactra verutana”
Criteria / Characteristics of successful bio-agent
1.Host-specific
2.Bioagent hardiness
3.Feeding habit
4.Ease of
multiplication
1. Host-specific
• Should not attack other economic plant spp
• They should pass starvation test i.e. they prefer to
starve to death rather feed upon other than host weeds
• Lantana was controlled by “Teleonemia scrupulosa”
insect bio-agent
• But in India it is likely to damage teak (Tectona grandis)
and sesame (Sesamum indicum)
• Zygogramma bicolarata is an effective leaf eating bio-
agent against Parthenium (carrot grass). But it is found
to attack sunflower in India
2. Bioagent hardiness
• Bio-agent should free from its own parasites a
and predators
• Bio-agent should withstand starvation for
short or long periods of food shortage when
the target weed population is brought to low
level
• But carp can’t survive even a short period of
starvation
3.Feeding habit
• Bio-agents are more efficient in controlling
weeds if they attack either flowers or seeds of
the weed or bore into the stems than root and
leaf feeders
• But root-feeding insects are more effective in
controlling perennial weeds
4. Ease of multiplication
• Bio-agent should have high rate and ease of
natural reproduction
• It is very important for insects, pathogens,
snails and competitive plants
• But it is not desirable with carp as its
increased population compete with natural
fish
Kinds of classical bio-agents
Six kinds of Bio-agents were used to control weeds
They are-
• Insects
• Carp fish
• Fungi
• Competitive plants
• Snails
• Mites
Insects
• Largely host specific- i.e one insect spp is
employed to destroy the only one weed
species
• First successful example reported from Hawai
in 1902 “Lantana camara” controlled by Moth
“Crocidosema lantana”
• Insects that were found effective belong to
Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Diptera
Carp fish
• Consume large quantities of aquatic weeds
• Whiteamur (Chines grass carp)
“Ctenopharyngodon idella” is promising spp
for aquatic weed control
• Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) a non
herbivorous fish used to control submerged
aquatic weeds
Plant pathogen
• Many fungi attack specific weed spp. For
instance “Acacia glauca” controlled by spore
suspension of “Cephalosporium zonatum”
Skeleton weed (Chondrilla juncia) controlled
by rust causing fungi “Puccinia chondrillana
Competitive plants
• Very competitive in suppressing specific

weeds
• Slender spike rush (“Eleocharis
acicularis”) aquatic plant can cover the
canal bottom and it is not allowing to
establish destructive tall weeds.
• Typha sp can be controlled by “Panicum
purpurascens” or “Brachiaria mutica”
(Para grass)
• Marigold has potential to displacing
Parthenium spp. Cassia sericea also
suppressed the Parthenium
Snails
• The large tropical fresh water snail “Marisa
cornuarietis” feed on aquatic weeds. Marisa
feed on roots of water hyacinth, water lettuce
and leaves of “Salvinia”
Mites
• The mite “Tetranychus desertorum” controls
prickly pear “Opuntia dellini”
Outstanding and feasible examples of biological weed control
• Larvae of Coctoblastis
cactorum, a moth borer,
control prickly pear
Opuntia sp. The larvae
tunnel through the
plants and destroy it. In
India it is controlled by
cochinial insects
Dactylopius indicus and
D. tomentosus
Lantana Camera
Lantana was the first weed controlled successfully with
certain insect bioagents in Hawaii..
• Crocidosema lantana, a moth was found to be promising
in destroying flowers and seeds of lantana. In Australia,
three successful insect biocontrol agents are hispine
beetles (Octotoma scabripennis and Uroplata girardi)
and tingid /lantana bug (Teleonemia scrupulosa)
• In Andhra Pradesh lantana has been controlled by some
of these insects ,besides the lantana seedfly (Ophiomyia
lantanae)
Lantana camara
Crocidosema lanatanae
Alligator weed (Alternanthera
philoxeroides)
Flee beetle: Agasicles hygrophyla

Water hyacinth
(Eichornea crassipes)
• World wide aquatic weed
infested transplanted paddy
fields including India.
• Hyacinth moth Sameodes
albiguttalis feed up on
young leaves and apical buds
• Beetles Neochetina bruchii
and N. eichorniae are also
damaging the water
hyacinth
Parthenium hysterophorus
(Gajar Ghas)
Controlled by: Zygogramma
bicolorata (Mexican Beetle)
•Imported in 1982 from Mexico to
Bangalore
•Both adults and larvae are
capable to feed on parthenium
leaves.
•Larvae after hatching start to
feed on soft growing leaves, first
attacking the terminal and axillary
buds and later the leaf blades
Adults voraciously defoliate the
plant.
Bioherbicide philosophy of weed control
• Bioherbicides are pathogens cultured artificially and made
available in sprayable formulations; just like a chemical
herbicide
• The pathogen selected for the purpose is usually from the
native place of the weed, but it could also be from other
places
• The bioherbicides are also sometimes called mycoherbicides.
A mycoherbicides can be both specific and non-specific
• The bioherbicide philosophy differs from the classical
biocontrol philosophy referred to earlier, in certain ways as
follows
• Bio herbicide remains active only on the current weed population,
without any chance of cyclic perpetuation of the weed (or of the bio
gent)
• Each new flush of the weed thus requiring retreatment with it
• Bio herbicide can be developed for selective control of weeds in a crop
just like any other selective herbicide, which is not the case with the
classical philosophy bio agents
• The development of bio herbicides is of great interest to industrialists
since it involves every season requirement of the product for field use
• In variance with it, the classical biological control approach has no
incentive to the private, profit-oriented organizations; it must depend
solely upon public sector support
Examples of Bioherbicides
Merit and demerit -bioagents
Merits
1) Least harm to the environment
2) No residual effect
3) Relatively cheaper and comparatively long lasting effect
4) Will not affect non-targeted plants and safer in usage
Demerits
1) Multiplication is costlier
2) Control is very slow
3) Success of control is very limited
4) Very few host specific bio-agents are available at present
Chemical control
Chemicals that are used to kill plants or weeds are

called herbicides
Dr. Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

(Agronomy), RRS (OAZ), UBKV, Majhian
Before jumping to the topic...
• Herbicides-chemicals that kill or control
vegetation
• Common salt, ash
• First selective control -1896 in France-Bordeaux
mixture sprayed on grapevines for protecting it
from downy mildew damaged certain broadleaf
weeds.
• Copper sulfate was the chmical responsible for
that
Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor
(Agronomy), RRS (OAZ), Majhian, UBKV
• Between 1989 and 1908 several other inorganic
salts such as sodium chlorate, carbon bisulfide,
sodium arsenite, kainite, calcium cynamide and
sulfuric acid were developed foe non-selective
control of perennial weeds.
• Between 1930 to 1940 some boron compounds,
thiocyanates, Dinitrophenols, ammonium
sulfate and certain mineral salts were developed
for selective and non-selective weed control.
Milestone in herbicide history: The discovery
of the herbicidal activity of 2, 4-D (2, 4-
dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) first synthesized
in 1941

Herbicides - classification

I. Classification based on chemical nature
Inorganic Organic
(do not contain carbon
atoms in their molecules) (contain carbon atoms
in their molecules)
Eg:
Eg:
•Acid type- Arsenic acid •Oil type- Diesel oil
Arsonous acid xylene type of aromatic oils
Sulphuric acid •Non oil type- Majority of
•Salt type- Sodium arsenate present day herbicides
Sodium chlorate
Copper sulphate
***There are about 150 herbicides are available. They differ each other like behavior in soil,
plants, mode of action etc. based on this chemical nature; the herbicides are grouped into 31
classes.

II Classification based on methods of
application of herbicides
• Methods of application of herbicides are decided largely by their modes of action

and selectivity. Important methods of application of herbicides to crop and non-
crop lands are given, as follows
• Soil-Active and Foliage-Active Herbicides
• Soil-Active Herbicide
• A soil-active herbicide is one that is applied primarily to the soil rather than to the
vegetation. Inside the soil it kills weeds as they germinate or inhibits sprouting of
their rhizomes, stolons, and tubers. Therefore, in crop fields a soil-active
herbicide eliminates early weed-crop competition for the period of 4 to 8 weeks,
depending upon the herbicide and its rate used. The soil-active herbicides are
applied at the times of planting of crops, and to the weed free inter-rows of
established crops to obtain extended period of weed control. Eg simazine,
alachlor, trifluralin, and EPTC. On non-crop lands, the soil-active herbicides used
are soil sterilants and fumigants

Methods of application of herbicide
Soil applied Foliage applied
1. Soil surface applied

2. Soil sub surface layering 1. Blanket application
3. Band application 2. Directed spraying
4. Soil fumigation 3. Protected spraying
5. Herbigation 4. Methods for treating bush and trees
a) Foliage method
b) Basal bark method
c) Cut stump treatment
d) Direct Contact Application
(use of herbicide wax bars
Herbicide cloth mulch
Herbicide rouging gloves
Soil injection)
1. Soil Surface Application
• Soil active herbicides are applied uniformly on the

surface of the soil either by spraying or by
broadcasting, where they may be either left
undisturbed or incorporated into the soil physically.
Eg triazines, urea, and anilide herbicides.
• There are other soil-applied herbicides which must
be incorporated into the soil to prevent their rapid
volatilization and/or photodecomposition losses. Eg
EPTC and fluchloralin, trifluralin and nitralin

2. Sub-Surface Layering
• It is the application of an herbicide

in a concentrated band, about 7-10
cm below the soil surface.
• The technique has proved effective
in controlling perennial weeds like
Cyperus rotundus and Convolvulus
arvensis.
• Eg Carbamate and nitralin
herbicides, The immediate use of
the technique is probably in
orchards and vineyards, besides
certain wide-row crops like sugar
beet and tobacco.

3. Band Application
The band application of a

herbicide constitutes its
application to a restricted band
along the crop rows, leaving an
untreated band in the inter-
rows. The band application of
herbicides is primarily a cost
saving device since it reduces
the quantity of herbicide in the
ratio of the treated band width
to the crop row width Banded herbicide carrot plot at mid-season

4. Soil Fumigation
Herbicides used for fumigation are called as
fumigants. Depending upon the nature of the
soil fumigant, it can be applied either
(1) by soil injection (Chloropicrin)
(2) by releasing it under sealed, plastic covers
(Methyl bromide) or
(3) by direct soil surface application (Metham)

Herbigation
• Application of herbicides with irrigation water

both by surface and sprinkler systems. In India
farmers apply fluchloralin for chillies and
tomato, while in western countries application
of EPTC with sprinkler irrigation water is very
common in lucerne.

Methods of Application of Foliage-Active Herbicides
• A Foliage-active herbicide is applied to weeds

after their emergence from the soil. They are
absorbed by the plant foliage and these are
translocated to the other plant parts. Eg 2,4,5-T,
paraquat, diquat, MCPB, amitrole, and
herbicidal oils are common examples of foliage-
active herbicides. There may be some herbicides
that are both soil-active and foliage-active, for
example, 2,4-D, picloram, and atrazine.
1. Blanket Application
Blanket (or over-the-top) it is uniform
application of herbicides to standing crops
with disregard to the location of the crop
plants.
• Only highly selective herbicides are applied by
this method, e.g. 2,4-D in wheat. rice , MCPB
in pea, 2,4-DB in Lucerne, and picloram in
sugarcane cf. surface application of herbicide

2. Directed Spraying
It is the application of herbicide to
weeds, which are growing in the
inter-rows of crop avoiding the crop
foliage as much as possible. One
important pre-requisite of directed
spraying is that farmer must get his
row crops well grown over the weeds
at the time of treatment. Orchards
and plantations are good venues of
directed herbicide sprays. Usually,
the directed spraying is adopted with
herbicides that are partially selective
to the treated crops.

3. Spot treatment
• Spot treatment is the
application of herbicides to
small patches of weeds,
leaving the weed-free gaps
untreated. This is used for
treating patches of noxious,
perennial weeds in certain
crop fields with potent
herbicides. Spot treatment
is of value also in the non-
crop areas to prevent
wastage of herbicide in the
weed-free spaces.
4. Protected spraying
Non-selective herbicides
can be employed to obtain
selective weed control in
distantly planted vegetables
and ornamentals either by
covering the non-target
plants before application of
the herbicide with plastic or
metallic covers or by spraying
herbicide underneath a
hooded or shielded sprayer.
This method is called
protected spraying.

Methods of treating brush and trees
i) Foliage treatment : When the brush
leaves are fully expanded, growing
actively. Ground sprayers can cover up
to 2.5 m high brush. Foliage treatments
are used for brush up to 15 feet tall.
Treatments are least effective during
very hot weather or when trees are
water stressed
ii) Basal bark treatment: A better
method of dealing with tall brushes
Basal 30 cm of stem bark. is peeled off
then spraying is done to the point of
liberal run-off
iii) Cut stump treatment : It comprises
sawing of the tree above the ground
followed by liberal application of the
herbicide on the cut surface

• iv) Other ways by which the concentrated herbicides
are applied to unwanted trees are, frill, notch, and
injection methods. The frills and notches are made
with sharp tools into the sapwood at convenient
stem height and filled with herbicides. The herbicide
injections are made into holes made in the tree
trunk. Usually, one herbicide injection per 2.5 cm
stem thickness is adequate. The frill, notch, and
injection methods are adopted on thick stem trees
which are 8 cm or more in diameter.
D.C.A.(Direct Contact Application
D.C.A includes all techniques involving wiping, rubbing, and
smearing of herbicide onto the target plant surfaces. It may be
achieved by using herbicide wax bars, herbicide cloth mulch,
herbicide rouging gloves, etc.
The herbicide laden wax bars are dragged against weeds growing
much taller to the crop plants.
Herbicide cloth mulches are spread in the crop inter-rows. The
rouging gloves carry arrangement to smear herbicide onto the
weed gripped by the worker.
Soil injection: Herbicides like ethylene, carbon bisulphide and
vernolate are applied by soil injections, at prescribed spacings,
before planting of the crops
Frill and notch
Gloves
Rope wick applicator
Tree injector
Cut stump method
Basal bark treatment
Classification on the basis of use
Sl No. Chemical class Soil applied Foliage applied
Systemic Contact Systemic Contact
1. Acetamide Alachlor - Alachlor -
2. Aliphatic TCA - Dalapon -
3. Benzoics Dicamba - - -
4. Bipyridiliums - - - Paraquat
5. Carbamates - - Asulam -
6. Cyclohexanedione - - Sethoxydim --
7. Dinitroanilines Flucloralin - - -
8. Diphenyl ether Oxyflurofen Nitrofen Oxyflurofen -
9. Imidazolines Buthidazole - Buthidazole -
10. Isoxazolidiones Imazathapyr - Imazathapyr -

Contd...

11. Nitriles Diclobencil - - Bromoxynil
12. Oxadiazoles Oxadiazon - - --
13. Oxadiazolides Methazole - Methazole -
14. Phenoxys - - 2,4-D -
15. Phenols - - - Dinoseb
16. N- - - Flumiclorac -
phenylphthalamides
17. Phenylpyridazines - - Pyridates -
18. Phenylpyridazones Sulfentrazones - Sulfentrazo -
nes
19. Phthalamates Naptalam - Naptalam -
20. Pyrazoliums Norflurazone - Difenzoqua -
t

Contd...

21. Pyridines Dithiopyr - Fluridone -
22. Picolinic Acids - - Clopyralid -
23. Quinolines Quinclorac - Quinclorac -
24. Sulphonyl ureas Bensulfuron - Bensulfuron -
25. Thiocarbamates Thiobencarb - - -
26. Triazolopyrimidine Cloransulam - Cloransulam -
sulphonamide
27. Triazines Atrazine - Atrazine -
28. Uracils Bromacil - - -
29. Urea Isoproturon - Isoproturon -
30. Unclassified Bensulide - Glyphosate -

Thanks…


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Methods of weed control

2 approaches in biological control:

Successful bio-agent Bio-agent

• Very competitive in suppressing specific

Flee beetle: Agasicles hygrophyla

Chemicals that are used to kill plants or weeds are

Dr. Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

• Methods of application of herbicides are decided largely by their modes of action

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

Soil applied Foliage applied

1. Soil surface applied

• Soil active herbicides are applied uniformly on the

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

• It is the application of an herbicide

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

The band application of a

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

• Application of herbicides with irrigation water

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

• A Foliage-active herbicide is applied to weeds

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

Rope wick applicator

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

Systemic Contact Systemic Contact

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

Systemic Contact Systemic Contact

30. Unclassified Bensulide - Glyphosate -

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

Dr.Shyamashree Roy, Assistant Professor

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