Insecticides #32785

Weed is a plant considered undesirable, unattractive or troublesome, especially growing where it is not wanted. These unwanted plants grow in the fields where they compete with the crop for water, soil nutrients, light and space, interfere with irrigation and harvesting operations and finally reduce the crop yields. Weeds also cause several diseases in human beings and animals. They also harbour insects, pests and diseases. A recent estimate by the Directorate of Weed Science Research, Jabalpur showed that weeds account for 37% of the total- annual loss in productivity, with a range from 20 to 100% in different crops situations. Weed management through use of herbicides is gaining popularity due to several reasons, one of which is non-availability of agriculture labour. Any chemical that kills the plants or inhibits their growth is known as a herbicide.

Insecticides are chemicals that control insects. Similarly, the chemicals used to control mites (acarina) are called as acaricides or miticides. Insects cause damage to the crops by sucking the plant sap from roots, leaves, stems, by defoliating the plant and by boring the stem, flowers and fruits, resulting in significant reduction in crop yields. In order to control different types of insect pests, the recommended insecticides and dose by the saus icar institutes based on the type of insects and their nature of damage, should be adopted. The crops are also attacked by different types of mites e.g. Red mite, yellow mite etc., which suck the cell sap from the leaves, resulting weakening of the plant, dropping of flowers and fruits and finally reduction in crop yields.