Foreword

It is a great pleasure to know that the e-book entitled ‘Handbook of Integrated Weed Management for Major Field Crops’ has been written by Rakesh Kumar and co-authors. Weeds, the unwanted plants in the fields, are one of the major constraints in increasing the production and productivity of crops. Weeds cause over 25% loss in food production, in addition to the huge costs involved in weed control, either by hand weeding or through the application of herbicides. However, weeds also maintain a delicate balance between the vitality of ecosystems and food security. Effective management of weeds, thus, presents an exciting opportunity for innovation for sustainable crop production and conservation of the ecosystem. The weeds compete with the main crop for nutrients and sunlight and, thus, result in lower crop yields if they are not controlled at the appropriate time. However, weeds also play an important role in the ecosystem and serve as a source of pollen and nectar for beneficial insects. Many weed species are also used as medicinal plants and, thus, need to be conserved in the ecosystem. This book on integrated weed management in major field crops takes a critical look at the synergy between different approaches to develop strategies for weed management in field crops, including chemical, biological, cultural, and mechanical control of weeds based on sound ecological principles and foster a comprehensive understanding of weed-crop interactions. I am sure that this ‘Handbook of Integrated Weed Management for Major Field Crops’ will encourage the readers to engage in exploration, critical analysis, and collaboration to develop weed management strategies that are both sustainable and effective. This book will also help in bridging the gap between the theoretical concepts and practical weed management in the field and lead to increased collaboration between researchers, extension workers, industry workers and farmers. I am confident that this handbook will be highly useful for the students, researchers, and farmers by providing them with a comprehensive guide for weed control. I congratulate the authors for the timely publication of this book on integrated weed management to ensure food and nutritional security in India.