Contents

## **Preface XI**


Preface

germination and growth.

for their efforts in writing the chapters.

Weed populations in agriculture are a major cause of yield loss. Conventionally, crop rota‐ tion and tillage practices limit the number of weed flora. Biological agents are used as bio‐ herbicides against weeds, which are an alternative to chemical herbicides. Several studies reveal that plant extracts, bacteria, fungi and their products effectively control weed seed

*Biological Approaches for Controlling Weeds* is intended to offer current knowledge on biological methods to control weed populations. It includes six chapters. The introductory chapter presents the hazardous effects of chemical herbicides and the need of biological agents to control weed populations. Chapter 2 describes the overall biological approach of weed con‐ trol, including principles and procedures for biological weed control, success rate of biologi‐ cal agents and making the choice of which agents to use. The conventional way of weed control by using the tillage system is explained in Chapter 3. It shows the importance of till‐ age types, seed bed preparation and weed removal. Chapter 4 reveals that a genetic differ‐ ence between weed competition and allelopathy is evidenced with canola populations. Plant extracts and their essential oils suppress weed growth and their phytotoxic activities are fo‐ cused on in Chapter 5. In Chapter 6, the role of mycoherbicides on weed control, production of fungal spores, propagules, mass cultivation, storage and their utilization are discussed. The information provided in this book will be useful for researchers, students and farmers to understand the importance of bioherbicides. All the authors are gratefully acknowledged

**Dr. Ramalingam Radhakrishnan**

Karpagam Academy of Higher Education

Department of Microbiology

Eachanari, Coimbatore, India

Assistant Professor
