A review on integrated weed management practices-Mechanical and chemical methods

Abstract

Agriculture forms the backbone of the Indian economy, with a significant portion of the population depending on it for livelihood. Despite advancements in technology, many essential farming operations-such as spraying, weeding, sowing, and reaping-are still performed using traditional methods. These practices are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and often inefficient. Although mechanization has brought considerable improvement in productivity, most advanced machines are expensive and unaffordable for small and marginal farmers who constitute the majority in India. Additionally, small landholdings limit the practicality of large-scale equipment. With the rising demand for food and increasing labor shortages in rural areas, there is a pressing need for affordable, compact, and multi-purpose machines that can perform multiple operations efficiently. This review explores the extent of work done in developing integrated systems, particularly for spraying and weeding. Such systems aim to reduce manual effort, conserve resources through precision application, and promote sustainable agricultural practices tailored for small-scale farming.