Cultural and Mechanical Practices

To strive towards on-farm pigweed eradication, farmers should consider cultural practices that gives the crop a competitive advantage over pigweed as well as mechanical practices that disrupt germination and can eliminate plant tissue. By putting these types of tools to good use, the number of weeds left to control chemically are reduced, alleviating some of the selection pressure from herbicides, reducing the risk of escapes and poor control.

Narrow Rows

Allows for faster canopy development and reduces sunlight to weed seeds.

Crop Rotation

Allows different herbicides and control practices to be used to control weeds.

Cover Crops

Suppress weed growth by shading the soil.

Tillage and Cultivation

Moves weed seed below the germination zone.