Different Aspects of Weed Management in Maize (Zea mays L.): A Brief Review

Abstract

Maize yield and weed concentration have a long history of reciprocal correspondence. The maize crop plant and weed species compete ruinously for nutrients, space, light, and water essential for their progress and advancement. The losses due to weed and methodologies of weed management have been discussed in this review. Reports have estimated around a 37% global loss in total maize production due to weeds. Among the different available weed control methods, chemical methods have become the new common in today’s world. A major upswing in interest in chemical methods of weed control from people all over the world can be deduced from surveys. The monetary forces that are the foremost objectives guiding our choices in crop production practices play a major role in this stimulation of increasing interest. These changes are not in the least befitting for the long term, as the overexploitation of the herbicides has an adverse effect on the environment and causes dismissal of the productivity of the soil, although being market-driven and favorable in the beginning. Since none of the single approach methods can work well enough on maize crops, integrated weed management and biological methodologies are recommended through several reports. In contrast to various weed management strategies, a significant gain in the academic attention of biological control methods can be reckoned from reports over the past few years. Many research projects are also currently underway.