Integrated weed management in cotton: A review

Abstract

Cotton known as “King of natural fibre” and commonly referred as “White gold” belongs to family Malvaceae and genus Gossypium stands as a vital commercial crop within the agricultural landscape of India. However, in its early stages, cotton grows slowly, and the wide row spacing commonly used provides ample space for various weed species to thrive. They in turn pose a significant challenge by competing with cotton for essential resources like water, light, air and nutrients, thereby retarding cotton growth potential. To counter this adopting a single approach is not sufficient thus the integration of various weed management practices emerges as a viable solution to achieve comprehensive weed control simultaneously enhancing cotton productivity. Integrated weed management encompasses a set of strategies including physical, mechanical, cultural, biological and chemical approaches. This paper presents a concise overview of research achievements across different geographical locations in context of effective weed management methods in cotton cultivation.