Effects of long term use of herbicides in cropping systems in India

Integrated weed management is the best approach in a cropping system to manage weeds and to enhance crop yields.Higher food production could be achieved by increasing the productivity of different cropping systems using improved technologies and increased cropping intensity both in rain-fed and irrigated farming. Weeds are one of the major constraints in the production of finger millet. By following transplanted finger millet - groundnut system, the density of Cyperus rotundus was lowered in finger millet crop after the harvest of groundnut. The usage of recommended herbicide(s) for the first crop in a sequence should not cause any residual effect on the succeeding crop or vice-versa. The shift in weed flora in a cropping system involving cereals, pulse/oilseed crops have been documented. In addition, integration of FYM along with recommended fertilizer application appeared to sustain the productivity of crops. In nutshell, the effect of weed management practices along with fertility levels in cropping system of finger millet- groundnut and transplanted rice-rice on shifting of weed flora, grain/seed yield and economics (benefit-cost ratio) in Karnataka, India.