Weed Management Strategies in Organic Rice Production System- A Review

Farmers view weeds as the number one barrier to organic rice production. Also, organic rice-growing farmers feel weed management is their number one priority, so they need more research about weed management under organic conditions from the researchers. Weeds can be considered a significant problem because they have a tendency to decrease crop yields by increasing competition for moisture, sunlight and nutrients also serving as host plants for pests and diseases. Since the development of herbicides, farmers have been used these chemicals to eradicate weeds from their fields. Using herbicides not only increased crop yields as well as reduced the labour required to remove weeds. Today, some farmers have a renewed interest in organic methods of managing weeds since the widespread use of agrochemicals has affected the environment and health. It has also been found that in some cases herbicides use can cause some weed species to dominate fields because the weeds develop resistance to herbicides. Moreover, some herbicides are destroying weeds that are harmless to crops, resulting in a potential decrease biodiversity. It is important to understand that under an organic system of seed control, weeds will never be eliminated but only managed. Consistent methods of weed management can reduce the costs and contribute to economical crop production without endangers the environment.