Perspective of Herbicide Resistance in Weeds and Their Management

Weeds have been a problem creator in crop production practices since
time immemorial. The weeds cause around 37-45% crop yield reduction. Out
of all the methods of control of weeds, the most prominently used one is the
chemical control of weeds with the help of herbicides. The chemical control
with herbicides being an effective and quick option towards weed control
has made farmers more stooped towards them. The unavailability of labours
and their high wages also aid in the increased usage of herbicides. This
increased use of herbicides has led to the development and evolution of
herbicide-resistant weeds, shift in weed flora and increased herbicide
residues in the food chain and thus created an imbalance in the ecosystem.
Herbicide resistance results from the evolution of weeds, resulting from the
selection pressure laid by using similar herbicides or different herbicides
having similar modes of action. Therefore, their management in crop
production is as important as crop production itself. This chapter
acknowledges the concept of herbicide resistance and its development,
mechanism and types. It brings to light the technological options for the
management of herbicide-resistant weeds. The management of herbicide
resistance weeds does not rely on a single measure to control weeds but
includes an array of techniques and tools to prevent the evolution and spread
of these weeds. Thus, an appropriate combination of chemical, nonchemical,
biotechnological and genetic methods would be greatly helpful in
the management of herbicide resistance in weeds.