Weed Management Principles K. George Beck Professor of Weed Science Dept Bioag Sciences & Pest Mgmt Colorado State University

Weed Management Strategies Prevention Prevention – Active steps to avoid occurrence Vigilance and vectors Vigilance and vectors Eradication Eradication – Elimination from an area Early detection and rapid response Early detection and rapid response Control Control – Decrease population below critical threshold Reduce infested acres and impacts Reduce infested acres and impacts

Weed Control Methods Physical/mechanical Physical/mechanical – Hand-pulling, hoeing, mowing, tillage, burning, flooding … Cultural Cultural – Input favoring desired plants; competition Biological Biological – Using organisms, especially natural enemies Chemical Chemical – Herbicides, growth regulators

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