Management: physical, cultural, chemical

Abstract

The ecology of parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus), particularly its persistent soil seed bank, the multiple dispersal mechanisms and the ability to reach reproductive maturity quickly, allows it to persist in areas following initial control activities. To attain the desired level of management, several follow-up treatments are required and to do this most effectively, consideration should be given to all available options and how they can be integrated. This chapter considers the importance of other management strategies and discusses them in the context of integrated weed management. A detailed account is presented of cultural (legislative measures, hygiene practices, crop rotation, cover crops, competition and suppression), physical (manual and mechanical removal, fire and heat) and chemical (synthetic and natural products) approaches used to manage parthenium weed in different parts of the world.