Weed science is a major and vital discipline of agricultural science. Currently the field is going through a phase of technological change. Weed scientists are facing new challenges on account of emergence of weeds resistant to herbicides, shifts in weed flora, and concerns about safety of herbicides.
From the time the second edition of this book was published in 2000, there has been a tremendous progress in virtually every branch of science that has a bearing on weed science. The core branches include biology, ecology, agronomy, physiology, chemistry, biochemistry, application technology, genetics, genetic engineering, etc. As a result, the field of weed science has now become much broader than it did ever.
This comprehensive reference and textbook discusses the principles and practices of weed science in a systematic and comprehensive manner. It begins with weed biology and ecology; dwells on various approaches in weed management; discusses various herbicides, bioherbicides, allelochemicals and safeners and their action mechanism and interaction in plants, soils and environment; and deals with the practical aspects of weed management in field and plantation crops, aquatics, forestry and non-cropping systems as also herbicide application.
The highlights of this edition include chapters on herbicide resistance in weeds and management, genetic engineering for crop resistance to herbicides; transgenic and nontransgenic herbicide-resistant crops; adoption, benefits, limitations and management of herbicide-resistant crops; and omics and genomics in weed management. The range of topics covered in the book is very wide, rarely found in a book of this kind. This edition is expected to serve well students of weed science at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels besides teachers, researchers and extension personnel working or interested in weed science in colleges, universities, research institutions, governmental and nongovernmental institutions, herbicide industry, etc.
